BATTLE OF ATLANTIC

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1941, Page 6

BATTLE OF ATLANTIC

BRITISH SATISFIED With Latest Trends Luntish Oiliciai Wireiessj jrf.Q.W ' RUGBY, July 23. wmie there is at tne numeni nothing of importance to report about tne rsattie or tne Atlantic used, oiiu naval, observer expressed tne situation as ronows: “rrogiess is not unsaiisractory, and taxing ai. ; iactois into consiaerati.'jn it is not wisniu. clunking to regard the tuture vvun sooev commence, urovmed. everyood> m the country does tne utmost n. his or her power. Rut. or cotuse, we must always be prepared for ups ano downs.” , t , . While declining to Hive details oi activities against U-boats, which ne said interested the enemv even more than the British public, the Financial Secretary told the Mouse ol Commons that the results lately achieved had been encouraging An Admiralty statement says: the wav hi which German raiders treated captured ships indicates that Germany is sulf ering from a shortage ol metals, especially brass. A ra.dei took from one ship engine-pacKing brass, in addition to ordinary stores. Before another shin was sunk, it was stripped of all brasswork and ' fittings, including brass casings, porthole frames, and cooking utensils. The recent heavy destruction oy ■the Royal Air Force of German coastal shipping has been the subject ol discussion frorma new angle by Rondon naval ic'ircfes. The increasing shortage of cargo space, it is puintr ed out. mav well have the effect ol forcing the Germans to embark on a large merchant shipbuilding programme. To such a programme many industries must contribute. Skilled workers of many types would be needed, as much steel, engine, and boiler construction and electrical machinery would be required. In _a country organised, as Germany is, entirely for the war effort, a further diversion of labour and material to shipbuilding would undoubtedly lessen the output of other war material. including possibly U-boats. Thus the strategical value of the coordinated British pressure is well shown. The steady hammering by the Royal Air Force on vital, land transport routes and junctions has forced the Germans to employ coastal traffic to an ever-increasing extent, rhe destruction of this shipping and of U-boats must have a direct effect n’ the Battle of the Atlantic. Seven Blenheim aircraft ot the Bomber Command were out this morning and afternoon, searching for enemy shipping off the eoast oj France and the Low Countries. A coastal vessel was sunk, and anothe> was damaged