WARFARE AT SEA

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1939, Page 7

WARFARE AT SEA

GERMAN SHIP TORPEDOED

FRENCH SUBMARINE’S SUCCESS

[by OABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

(Recd. November 7, 10 a.m.) LONDON, November 6.

The “News Chronicle’s” Brussels correspondent says it is reported from the Belgian Congo that a French submarine torpedoed and sank the German U-boat supply ship Togo, in the vicinity of Lobito. .

U-BOAT FOUNDERS AT BREMEN.

LONDON, November 6

The Paris radio reports that a U-boat foundered at Bremen. The entire crew were drowned.

SINKING OF CANADA

BERLIN, November 5.

The German radio states that the Danish liner Canada which' sank on Saturday, following an explosion on Friday night, was lost through striking a British mine. The captain of the Canada is quoted in support of the statement that a mine sank the liner. She was a new vessel, and Danish Royalties travelled on 1 her when she made her first voyage.

BRITISH DENIAL.

RUGBY, November 6.

The German broadcast allegations, that the Danish liner Canada was sunk by a British mine, are denied in London, where it is stated that no British mines have been laid anywhere near the position in which the Canada was sunk. It is pointed out, furthermore, that British ’ mines, if they break from their moorings, are designed to become immediately safe, in accordance with internal noillaa

accordance with international law

UNDER-WATER CAMPAIGN.

REGARDED AS “SCOTCHED.”

(Recd. November 7, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, November G

In authoritative naval circles, the frequently-threatened intensified underwater campaign against ' mercantile shipping causes no anxiety, and the belief is general that the U-boat offensive has been “scotched.” The merchant shipping losses since the first fortnight of the war, when the conditions were most-favourable for such activities, have shown a rapid diminution. Figures revealed to-day show the position, which is regarded as offering a promising prospect. British ships sunk in September numbered 37, with a total tonnage of 155,636. In October, 18 British ships totalling 83.159 tons were sunk. No British ship has been sunk in November.

Other Allied ships sunk during this period were one in September (2660 tons), six in October (a total of 45,275 tons)', and none in November. Neutral ships sunk by U-boats were 15 in September (37,284 tons), 17 in October (44,038 tons), and two in November (12,450 tons). During the whole period, therefore, 55 British ships, totalling 238,795 tons, seven other Allied ships, totalling 47,935 tons, and 34 neutral ships, totalling 93,817 tons, were sunk. The British losses represent 1.5 per cent, of 18.5 million tons of British shipping on the high seas. As for the German air arm’s part in the naval war, the history of these early months has failed to produce the heavy air attack on British shipping that might have been expected, and those efforts the Germans have made have been entirely fruitless and expensive. No British ship, naval or mercantile, has been even temporarily disabled from the air, except the demilitarised battleship Iron Duke, while the German attacking forces experienced losses amounting to roughly 30 per cent.

SHIPS ARRIVING SAFELY.

LONDON. November 6

Twenty-eight ships, representing four convoys, brought 100,000 tons of foodstuffs to a British port in four days, indicating a safe passage for the Empire’s commerce.