LOST CONVOY

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 14, 16 January 1918, Page 7

LOST CONVOY

RESULT OF COURT OF ENQUIRY

EVERYTHING POSSIBLE DONE

[bedter's telegram.)

LONDON, 14th January^ Sir Eric Geddes (First Lord of the Admiralty) stated that the-Admiralty had confirmed the finding of the Court of '-Enquiry that the escorting vessels did their best to protect the Scandinavian convoy -which was attacked in December. The escort fought in a proper and seamanliko manner, and the covering forces took all possible steps to come to their assistance and prevent the. escape of the tnemy. The Admiralty Board was of opinion that the circumstances which prevented the covering forces arriving in timo^ could not be prevented. Admiral Beatty'a dispositions wero the best possible with the available forces.

One British and five- neutral merchantmen \vere attacked on 17th December ■while en route to Norway, and ;il! six were sunk. One destroyer and four armed trawlers which were escorting them wero ;ilso sunk. The convoy was bound from Scotland, and aggregated 8000 tons. It was protected by an anti-subma-rine escort, ,consisting of two destroyers, the Partridge and Pellew, and four armed trawlers. For somo unexplained reason the force sent by the Com-mander-in-Chief to secure the convoy against attack by surface vessels did not reash the scene of the action in time to prevent the convoy's destruction. A second convoy, which was also being covered, was not attacked. Admiral Sturdee presided at the enquiry into the circumstances. The Partridge sighted four of the enemy's destroyers about 11.45 a.m. on 12th December. The Pellew and Partridge engaged the enemy while the eonyojr

scattered. Shortly after the engagement the Partridge was heavily hit, and a little later there was an explosion, after which the vessel sank. About this time the Pellew was holed on the water-line. With her engine-room filled with steam and her engines partially disabled she safely reached port. The enemy then attacked the convoy, and the six merchantmen and four aimed trawlers were sunk.

Eighty-six Scandinavians—two of whom were women—and ten British survivors were rescued by four destroyers, which had been despatched at full speed from a cruiser squadron which was hastening to the scene. Other survivors reached Norway in their own boats. One trawler crew was saved in its own boat. The Pellew had one officer and three men killed and two seriously injured. '