WAR ON U-BOATS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1939, Page 7

WAR ON U-BOATS

PROGRESS OF CAMPAIGN SEVENTEEN REPORTED SUNK [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, October 14. It. is.learned that three U-boats were sunk yesterday. Two of them were of the large oceangoing class. It is established that to date a total of 17 U-boats have been sunk. | RESCUED FROM LOCHAVON (Recd. Oct. 16, 10.45 a.m.). LONDON, October 15. The crew and passengers, the latter totalling six, of the Royal Mail liner Lochavon, 9,205 tons, which was sunk in the Atlantic early on October 14, landed in England, to-day. British warships answered the Lochavon’s SOS and effected the rescues. Sixty-two members of the crew and six passengers drifted for eight hours in the boats. FRENCHMEN RESCUED. NEW YORK, October 14. The freighter, Black Hawk picked up 39 survivors from the ship Emile Miquet, whose sinking was cabled yesterday. One life, was lost. AWARD FOR GALLANTRY. LONDON, October 13. The 0.8. E. for gallantry has been awarded to Mr. J. G. Turner, the radio officer of the. steamer Manaar, who remained at his post during the fight between the steamer and a Üboat in the early , days of the war.

SUCCESS OF CONVOY SYSTEM. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] (Recd. October 16, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, October 15. The brunt of the German U-boat campaign on merchant shipping has so far been borne by Scandinavian countries. In all, 23 neutral merchant vessels have been sunk to date, while nine Swedish ships have been held up at Goteburg on account of the danger ot German mines. Germany may soon begin to question the wisdom of sinking neutral shipping, in view of the fact that the Scandinavian countries are virtually the only ones with which Germany can continue to trade by sea. Since introducing the convoy system, 1275 British and 47 Allied ships had been safely convoyed to their destinations up to October 10. No convoyed ship had been sunk by enemy submarines. It is pointed out in London that German financial difficulties may compel German merchant ships to leave neutral ports, where they have . been seeking refuge, owing to their inability any longer to pay harbour dues. Already, one 4000-ton German vessel has been arrested at Curacao, owing to inability to pay harbour dues. ' PROTECTION FROM THE AIR. RUGBY, October 15. According to an Air Ministry statement, there were poor flying conditions for the past week, but these caused only a slight interruption of convoy work by the reconnaissance aircraft of the coastal command. The aircraft guarding the convoys have been withdrawn only when flying was impossible through bad visibility, and rain storms caused the aircraft to fly at times close above the waves. Under the protection of air anti-submarine patrols and naval escorts, thousands of tons of vital supplies have been shipped safely to Britain. All convoys arriving or leaving now receive air protection, which may extend hundreds of miles out to sea.