WEEK’S FEWER SINKINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 January 1941, Page 7

WEEK’S FEWER SINKINGS

ONLY FOUR BRITISH SHIPS PROBABLE FACTORS [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, January 14. The year has begun with reassuringly low losses in merchant shipping from enemy action, the official figures for the week ended midnight January 5/6 being four British vessels, with 14,687 total tonnage, and no .allied or neutral losses. The week’s total was the fifth lowest of the war, and contrasts with a weekly average of 62,536 since the outbreak. Although reasons for the low total must generally be a matter for conjecture, it is felt in authoritative quarters that the general weather conditions early in the year were bad for flying, and likely to restrict the activities of magnetic minelaying enemy aircraft, as well as bombing attacks on ships in coastal and Atlantic convoys. At the same time, heavy R.A.F. bombing on numerous occasions _ of German naval bases and occupied French bases, is presumably having an effect on the number of effective German submarines. Italian submarines would not be affected to the same degree, but these might also have been somewhat reduced by British air attacks on their bases. A third contributory cause is likely to be the slow but continuous increase in British convoy escorting flotillas. No German claims to have sunk mercantile tonnage appear to have been made this week, other than the retrospective claim that a raider sank 64,155 tons of shipping in the Pacific. No comparison with the figure this week, therefore is possible, the raider losses having been included in the earlier weekly totals as soon as reported, and notified in the figures already published. Officially amended figures were given by the Admiralty—more than a year after —for shipping losses during the sixteenth week of the war (to >24/12/39), reducing from nine ships 6355 tons, to six ships, 5400 tons. It would appear that three British ships, of comparatively small tonnage, have been carrying on for over twelve months, when they had been officially written off as losses.

MEDITERRANEAN ENGAGEMENT BRITISH SHIPS DAMAGED RUGBY,' January 14. An Admiralty communique issued to-night, gives the facts regarding the recent German-Italian air attacks on British naval units in the Mediterranean, which have been the subject of spectacular Italian-German claims.

The Admiralty communique says: Our naval forces had been operating in the central Mediterranean during the period January 7 to 13, covering the passage of . convoys through the Mediterranean. On the morning of January 10, when in the Sicilian Channel, two Italian destroyers were encountered. One of these, of the Scipa class, was sunk, but the other managed to escape. Later H.M.S. Gallant was damaged by a mine or torpedo, but arrived in harbour. „ . German-Italian air forces, working from Italian bases, and including a number of dive-bombers, made great efforts against our ships during these operations. H.M.S. Illustrious was hit and received some damage and casualties. One of our cruisers, H.M.S. Southampton, was also hit, and suffered casualties. Twelve enemy aircraft were shot down, and a further number damaged. Th- main object of the operations, which was that of passing a convoy from west to east, was carried out according to plan. The convoy carried important material assistance for Greece.

GERMAN PILOTS’ DARING. (Recd. Jan. 15, 2.30 p.m.). LONDON, January 14. Britain’s prestige in the Mediterranean has been raised to a new height, as the result of the defeat of the Luftwaffe’s first attempt to bolster Italy’s faltering strength, by leading a fierce attack against the British naval forces. The attack was the heaviest air raid against the British Mediterranean Fleet, since the outbreak. The reckless courage wherewith it was carried out left no doubt that the pilots had been handpicked for an obvious attempt to scare the British Fleet from the western Mediterranean. The British United Press correspondent with the Fleet says the Luftwaffe attacked the Fleet after the British cruisers and destroyers had sunk an Italian destroyer, in a spectacular running battle, within gunfire of one of Mussolini’s strongholds. One Italian destroyer slipped away in the early morning haze, and was not seen again. The other Italian destroyer, however, was caught in a withering fire from our ships. Two cruisers i pumped several salvoes into her, crippling her hopelessly, while a British destroyer raced alongside, and finished the job. Presumably all hands were lost, although some might be able to reach the Italian coast. This Italian vessel fought courageously and determinedly. The small guns made a valiant but feeble reply against the heavy British guns. i The battle between the dive- , bombing planes and the British wari ships lasted from dawn to dusk. The ' German pilots showed great daring, repeatedly .diving to attack in the face of a hail of shells.

FIGHT WITH SUBMARINE. CAPE VERDE ISLANDS, Jan. 13. How the British vessel Shakespear (5029 tons) engaged an Italian submarine for three hours and broke off the fight only after the ship’s guns were put out of action, is related by her master (Captain Bailey). “Immediately the submarine fired, I ordered the gun crew to reply. The men behaved with magnificent courage, in spite of repeated hits. Immediately one gunner was killed or wounded, another without a word of command leapt forward to take his place. Nineteen members of the crew' were killed. We certainly killed two members of-the submarine crew and wounded others. Some of my men lest a hand, and others had fingers blown off. Fifteen left hospital to-day. Seven seriously wounded are still in hospital. ■ “The submarine took our hfeboat in tow. One of my men, an elderly seaman, shouted: “I don’t want to be

saved by Italians,” and scrambled to the bow and began hacking the towrope.. His shipmates pulled him back, but he broke' away and jumped into the sea. We tried vainly to get him back, but he swam away from the boat and disappeared.” Captain Bailey refused to go on the submarine to have his wounds dressed. He was severely blistered by the sun and salt water and is still in hospital.

SOUTH AFRICAN MINESWEEPERS LONDON, January 13. A Cape Town report, says that a flotilla of South African minesweepers recently departed to co-operate with the Navy elsewhere. This is the first time South African warships have left home waters for service elsewhere. RUGBY, January 14. Prior to departure of the flotilla, the South African crews manning the' minesweepers were inspected and addressed by the Minister of Railways, who on behalf of General Smuts, paid a tribute to the sterling work of the seaward defence work in keeping the sea route round the Union safe, thus maintaining the trade and commerce of South Africa. He added that South Africa, the youngest service, was taking its place in the same command with the oldest, greatest and proudest fighting force in the world—the British Navy.

SHIP RETURNS TO PORT MONTEVIDEO, January 14. [ The “Mendoza” is reported to.be; returning to Montevideo. The Uruguayan Minister, Senor Guani, has denied reports that Uruguay has protested to Britain against the holding up of the vessel. He said he was awaiting a full report. U.S.A. LINER ASHORE MIAMI, January 14. All of the liner Manhattan’s 200 passengers have safely been brought ashore! and also their luggage. The lightening of the ship has been proceeding. . Coastguard cutters and tugs have stood by all night-long. They began at dawn to-day an attempt to dislodge the liner from the coast on which she is stranded.