ON THE SEAS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1943, Page 5

ON THE SEAS

U-BOAT MENACE

RUGBY, April 6. The United States Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Knox), speaking at Washington, referring to the increased shipping losses, said more German submarines than ever were now abroad, being concentrated in the mid-Atlantic, and there had been another change of submarine tactics. Although it was difficulty to determine what effect the Allied aerial blows against the submarine pens in Continental ports would have on the Battle of the Atlantic, Colonel Knox thought it could be assumed that the attacks were embarrassing the Germans, if for no other reason than the disruption of activities round the bases. The “London Times” warns that if Germany has deliberately chosen to use against Britain the submarine weapon, which must limit her use of the air arm to some extent, this has been because she considers it the most deadly weapon she could employ against Britain, the British Emoire. and the United States. •‘The Times” adds that _ it might be argued that the U-boat is the one weapon which affords Germany the remotest chance of avoiding defeat. The anti-submarine war has conditioned every phase of British and American activity, and has coloured every future prospect before their arms. If new tonnage from the shipyards were not overtaking the depreciation caused by the submarines the outlook would be black indeed, but the comfort drawn from the figures of new building must be qualified by the recollection that losses inevitably impose a dislocation of supplies and plans. New exertions, therefore, are demanded of the British especially in production since it has been a deficiency of material on water and in the air rather than erroneous methods of defence which has brought about the present state of affairs.

RUSSIAN SHIPS AGROUND

WASHINGTON, April 6. The U.S. Navy has announced that two small Russian merchantmen have run. aground off the North Pacific coast of the United States. Heavy seas rendered rescue operations dilficult, and reports indicate some casualties.