SEA WARFARE

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1940, Page 8

SEA WARFARE

ATLANTIC FIGHT Raider v. British Armed Liner [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.J LONDON, Jury 31. It is officially announced tnat a

raider in the South At.antic was damaged in an engagement with H.M.S. Alcantara, a 22,209-ton iormer Royal Mail Line vessel. The British Embassay at Rio de Janeiro announced that the Alcantara engaged the German raider at 92JJ yards off liha Trimdats, 700 mn-s m an easterly direction from Lit; Brazilian coast, on July 27. lhe a>eantara was slightly damaged. S;ic is expected to arrive at Rio this afternoon. Immediately upon sighting tnc raider, which is a fast converted merchantman, mounting four guns on each broadside, the Alcantara exagaged the enemy, which turned away when hit, using smoke-floats The raider escaped after the Alcantara’s speed was reduced by lucky shot. The British casuaTics were two killed and seven woundeu The known damage to the raider aifects her lighting efficiency. Tne_ Alcantara’s damage wc.3 -light, lhe search for the raider is continuing. Captain J. G. Ingram, D. 5.0., commanded the Alcantara. The Alcantara’s predecessor, similarly in thlast war, sank a disguised German raider, Grief, on the northern patrol, on February 28, 1916, then foundered herself 15 minutes later. Mr. Alexander, answering a questioner, said: I cannot agree to give information about Italian and German submarines which have been captured, sunk, or damaged. prevents the enemy from discovering how events occur, also from gauging the efficiency of our methods , Alcantara Voyage TO REPAIR YARDS. (Received August 1, 11.50 p.m.) RIO DE JANEIRO, August 1. The maritime police here have reported that the Alcantara entered the harbour at 1.55 o’clock this morning for a brief stay. She is. proceeding to the Vianna Islands shipyards for repairs, NOT AT RIO YET.

(Received August 2, 12.8 a.m.). MONTREAL, August 1. The Rio de J'aneiro maritime police have now announced that the “Alcantara” has not arrived arrived there. ARRIVAL STILL AWAITED. AT RIO DE JANEIRO. (Received August 2, 12.56 a.m.). RIO DE JANEIRO, August 1. Maritime officials at 6.45 to-day definitely established the fact that the Alcantara has not arrived. It was also revealed that the vessel arriving at 1.55 a.m. was a United, States ship, the Moormacland. The Alcantara is expe.cted here hourly. BERLIN, July 3.1. The spokesman claimed that Ge. many has destroyed 1,270,000 tons of British shipping since June 25, u 3. which naval units sank 936,000 tons Planes destroyed 334,000 tons and brought down 370 British planes.