BATTLESHIP TORPEDOED

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1939, Page 7

BATTLESHIP TORPEDOED

BRITAIN LOSES ROY Al. OAK OVER 700 MEN REPORTED MISSING (BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] LONDON, October 14. The Admiralty announced that the battleship Royal Oak had been sunk, apparently by submarine action, in the North Sea. Of the vessel’s complement of 1200, there are at present known to be 463 survivors. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says there seems every indication that the Germans have developed a new type of torpedo capable of penetrating the heaviest armour-plating of a; modern warship. The Germans assert that the Royal Oak was provided with special anti-torpedo protective armour, which apparently failed. German naval circles claim that the sinking of the Royal Oak has brought the total British warship tonnage sunk to 86,000. They, also announce that the battle-cruiser Hood was so severely damaged as to be out of action for several months. No Admiralty comment is so far available on this claim.

Special editions in Berlin announced the sinking of the Royal Oak.. The newspapers praise the prowess of the submarines and ask whether Mr. Churchill is yet ready to disclose the whereabouts of the aircraft-carrier, Ark Royal. They also emphasise the bitterness of the lesson to those who believe that Germany can without risk be starved out. AMONG THE SURVIVORS LONDON, October 15. A detailed list of names of survivors of the Royal Oak, issued by the Admiralty, now shows the total to have reached 463. These include Captain W. G. Benn, former captain of th eaircraft-carrier Argus, the former Director of Navigation (Commander R. F. Nicholls), and four lieutenant-commanders. . All the above have been landed, though the locality is not stated. The list of survivors is unlikely to contain any Australians or New Zealanders. It is quite possible that further names will be available in the morning. SURVIVORS NUMBER 414. ■ (Recd. Oct. 16, 10.45 a.m.). LONDON, October 15. A further Admiralty list of survivors of the Royal Oak makes the total 414, not 463, as cabled earlier. The Admiralty regrets, that the possibility of additional survivors is remote. ■. SUBMARINE RESPONSIBLE BERLIN, October 15. A German High Command communique announces that a German submarine sank the Royal Oak. DETAILS OF VESSEL The Royal Oak, one of Britain’s twelve capital ships, was completed in 1916, being one of the ships of . the 1914 programme. Of 29,000 tons, she was a sister ship of the Royal Sovereign, Resolution, Ramillies and Revenge, but was smaller than either the Renown or Repulse. The Royal Oak was active in the Great Wai’ and was one of the British battleships engaged in the Battle of Jutland. Her original speed was 23 knots and her thickest armour 13 inches. She carried eight 15-inch, twelve six-inch and four fourinch guns.

FRENCH SYMPATHY. RUGBY, October 15. An Agency message reports that the sinking of the Royal Oak has evoked keen sympathy among French naval circles, and among the French people. The naval authorities point out that, although the destruction of so many lives is a matter for the deepest regret, the ship herself does not present a loss of capital importance to the British Fleet. These expressions are not confined to Franie, as another Agency message states that the news was received with great regret in Italian circles; where expressions of sympathy are widespread.

CONCERN IN U.S.A. NEW YORK, October 14. . The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America says • naval experts viewed the sinking of the Royal Oak as having more serious implications in future than at present. If German submarines are able thus to trim further the British and French' naval margin, the sea blockade might • be threatened. Naval authorities are concerned at * the manner of the sinking. Normally - battleships at sea are safeguarded by a screen of light cruisers and destroy- ; ers, in addition to their own armour. Whether the torpedoes were fired * when the Royal Oak was anchored at < sea, is a question of importance to the / United States, and common to all navies, which, consider the battleship • the backbone of the fleet. There are 12 United States battleships in the „ | Pacific, of little more modern design »• than the Royal Oak, although pro- I bably better protected. X The sinking bore out Admiral Leahy’s testimony to Congress last year that a battleship can be sunk by X torpedoes, shells, and aerial bombs un- < der conditions favourable to attack. ARK ROYAL SAFE. (Received October 16, 1.30 p.m.) * RUGBY, October 16. < The Admiralty announces: “Since September 26, the German broadcast- J ing stations have continuously claimed g that the Ark Royal was sunk. In order to allay any possible doubt caused '£ by this untrue statement, the Admir- s* aity desires once more to reaffirm the < fact that the Ark Royal was not sunk .. or damaged in any way.” -g FRENCH CRUISER BLOWS UP j LONDON, October 13. £ The 10-year-old French cruiser, Toru d’Auvergne, caught fire and-blew y. up at Casablanca last month. Between ./• 100 and 200 of the crew were killed. armed merchant cruiser .. LUXURY LINER CONVERTED ? [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] I ■ ' ?•* RUGBY, October 14. The most recent addition to the British Navy is a 15,000-ton luxury liner which is being converted to an armed '* merchant cruiser, ready to deal with enemy raiders above or below the sea’s surface. The spacious first-class dining sal- . oon has been split in two to form the wardroom and gunroom. Shell racks stand where the deck quoit court is still marked out and the forward and aft cargo holds have been converted into ammunition magazines. She is only one of a number of big .. merchant vessels fitted out as armed merchant cruisers to form a new de- “■ fensive squadron for the Royal Navy. At the same time a number of ji smaller craft are being fitted with guns for purely defensive measures. In conformity with international law, they will have guns aft so that they . cannot fire from an attacking position.