ON THE SEAS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1945, Page 5

ON THE SEAS

U-BOAT SURRENDERS

WASHINGTON, May 12

The Navy is guarding against the possibility that some German longrqnge submarines may attempt to reach Japan. A naval spokesman said the terms of the surrender require submarines to surface and fly a black flag. Any submarine submerged will be attacked immediately. No submarines have yet arrived at United States ports, but a number have surrendered in the west Atlantic, and one is likely to arrive soon. The Germans are estimated to have from 200 and 300 submarines. It is thought possible that some have not heard the surrender order. Naval escorts in the Atlantic will probably be continued until all submarines are accounted lor, but even with the full cooperation of the German Admiralty it might be months before any unreported submarine could be counted definitely lost. - A message from Halifax says: lhe first German submarine to surrender in Canadian waters is being escorted to Shelbourne by Canadian warships. Warnings by Allied leaders that Germans in the last months of the war were attempting to intensify U-boat warfare were well founded says an Exchange Agency correspondent from Hamburg. There are hundreds of prefabricated sections ol submarines along 30 miles of derelict wharves in Hamburg. Their potentialities for adding to tne vvai s frightfulness were weakened by Al" ! lied bombing, and ended when Bnti ish troops occupied the P°^ TER

' Fourteen U-boats have thus far surrendered at British ports, chiefly in Scotland. Eight more are expected to-morrow. One equipped Schnorkel has been continuously submerged for nine weeks, but British naval officers reported the crew s discipline was still high. Two Eboats, one of which brought the Admiral Commander-in-Chief of Dutch ports, also surrendered to-day.

GERMAN-MINED AREAS

RUGBY, May 13.

German Admiral Bruening is now at Dover discussing with the British authorities the location of mines in the English Channel, North Sea, and Baltic Sea, writes a correspondent. He journeved to Britain a few days ago. It is likely the conferences and the carrying out of the clearance of navigation channels will occupy some months. While entrances to another German port have been heavily mined, the channels inside the dock area are apparently mine-free in many ports. This is the case along the Kiel Canal and Estuary of the Elbe leading to Hamburg, which will enable British Allied ships to ply freely when the North Sea entrances are clear. Minesweepers are already busy on this task and port authorities consider that vessels of the Liberty ship class will be able to operate in a few weeks from now. Hundreds of German dockworkers are now being mobilised to clear up bomb damage at other north German ports. The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Alexander) is visiting the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow during the week end, according to an Agency message. Mr. Alexander arrived at the Orkneys yesterday and is to go over several ships of the Fleet.

GERMAN LINER

LONDON, May 13

The world’s third- largest liner Europa, fifty-three thousand tons will make an -excellent trobpship for the Allies, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent from Bremerhaven. She has been lying idle since 1941, but the captain reported to the Allied authorities that she is in good condition, and could be ready for sea within a few weeks.