ATTACKS ON CONVOYS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20186, 2 March 1940, Page 5

ATTACKS ON CONVOYS

VERSION FOR GERMANS FISHING BOATS RAIDED BULLETS AND BOMBS (Rccd. Mar. 2, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Mar 1. A Berlin message says the German news agency claims that German warplanes to-day attacked a number of British warships on convoy duty and armed merchantmen. The agency says that “several ship of high tonnage were sunk by bombs and several others set on fire. One convoy group was broken up.” The Norwegian steamer Brott arrived at an east coast port with a heavy list after being bombed. It is believed that six of the crew are adrift on a raft. Nazi planes machine-gunned fishing boats nine miles off the coast of Yorkshire from a height of only 50ft. There were no casualties. The Nazis then dropped bombs without result. They flew off when British planes appeared. Another plane was reported to have been seen at a great height above the Essex side of the . Thames Estuary. Anti-aircraft batteries fired intensely and drove the raider seaward. The gunfire was heard in London. The Air Ministry, however, denied the reported enemy activity and antiaircraft fire over the Thames Estuary. It is understood that the gunfire heard in London came from the testing butts of the Woolwich arsenal.