ALLIES ON TOP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21142, 9 July 1943, Page 3

ALLIES ON TOP

U-BOATS IN ATLANTIC GERMAN CONFESSION NAVAL & AIR COVERAGE (British Official Wireless.) (11 a.m.) RUGBY, July 8. The German leaders have been compelled to abandon the pretence that U-boats are interrupting Allied sea communications, the most striking evidence of the failure of the submarine campaign being contained in a broadcast by Admiral Luetzow, Ihe German naval spokesman, when he admitted that the Allies had the upper hand in the Atlantic. “Destroyers sailing on the outer ring of a convoy drive U-boats below before they can ascertain the nature, course and speed of the convoy and escorts, sailing inside this ring, interrupt any attack. “The convoy lanes are kept under control by aircraft which, operating from Newfoundland, Greenland and Iceland, have continuously increased in 'number. The aircraft not only watch the U-boats but also attach them. Thus, the area has been gradually compressed in which L-boats can systematically pursue and attack convoys. “Finally, so as to use aircraft far from land, the Allies have developed auxiliary carriers and the aircraft from these circle over the convoy, warning the destroyers of the presence of U-boats and also attacking with depth charges. The U-boat is forced under the water, thus delaying it. If it came to the surface, it is shelled. If it dives, it is bombed. The U-boats’ task is a difficult one as the area it can observe is eight limes smaller than the area controlled from a destroyer.