DOUBLE BLOCKADE

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1940, Page 7

DOUBLE BLOCKADE

AGAINST BRITAIN “Times” View of the Reasons [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received December 5, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 4. “The Times” says: ’“Herr Hitler is convinced that adventures in the East cannot bring a speedy victory. He is anxious about the growing strength in Britain and a possible weakening of the German spirit. He is making a new attempt to secure an early decision in the West. This the German press describes as the "Second Battle for Britain.” Although the German claims are deliberately exaggerated, the attack on Britain is a formidable one. The British shipping losses show that, despite valuable cargoes coming in safely daily, our shipping has suffered heavily. Herr Hitler’s strategic plan, for the moment, seems to be to try to enforce by air and by sea a German blockade of Britain which had been prematurely announced. The fact that he is doing so now is probably due to an inability to make this attempt before, as Germany was forced to build U-boats to replace those sunk. Herr Hitler, in fact is seizing the first opportunity for anything approaching an organised double attack, which is also probably intended, so as to help the hard-pressed Italians, by preventing military supplies from Britain reaching Greece.”

JUGOSLAV CREW SAVED. LONDON, December 4. All the crew are safe from the “Cetvrti,” sunk by a bomb, off Ireland. ’PLANE SINKS U-BOAT. LONDON, December 4. A Royal Air Force communique reports that a German U-boat was sunk in the North Sea by a Canadian pilot of the Coastal Command. From the direction in which the U-boat was travelling it is assumed that it was Returning to its base.

The submarine was on the surface, and it opened fire on the aeroplane when it attacked from a low level. The U-boat was hit, and though the aeroplane had an elevator shot off. one petrol tank empty, and the other leaking, it reached home safely. RESCUE BY SUBMARINE. MONTREAL, December 4. Captain C. Ar undell has arrived at an East Canadian port, to take over the command of a freighter. He described his rescue by a British submarine from a Nazi prison ship, off ’.he French coast. Captain Arundell commanded the freighter “Haxby,” which was sunk by an armed cruiser, last April. The survivors were transferred to a Norwegian freighter under Nazi control, off the New Zealand coasti They were en route to internment when the submarine intercepted the prison ship, and rescued the prisoners.