HUNTED SUBMARINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 156, 30 December 1940, Page 9

HUNTED SUBMARINE

AMAZING, ADVENTURES

CRIPPLED GREEK CRAFT

TORPEDO ATTACK SUCCEEDS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received December 30, 2.20 p.m.)

ATHENS, December 29.

The Greek submarine Papanicolis, which sank three Italian steamers on Christmas Eve, was accorded a tremendous welcome when it arrived at its base after amazing adventures.

The vessel crept to the entrance of the Bay of Valona and sighted a convoy of six ships, the largest of which was of 15,000 tons and was escorted by six destroyers. The Papanicolis found itself inside the destroyers' screen., fired four torpedoes, and dived to .170 feet as the crew heard explosions indicating. that, three of the torpedoes had struck..

Aircraft and destroyers raced from the shore, rocking the Papanicolis with bombs and depth charges.

Currents carried the submarine northward and it came to the surface after five hours. It was unable to steer because of currents and found itself off the coast of Dalmatia. The submarine later submerged for between 30 and 40 hours north of Valona, being hunted by planes throughout, and finally reached an lonian island and regained its base on December 26.