U-BOAT CAMPAIGN

Grey River Argus, 22 January 1943, Page 1

U-BOAT CAMPAIGN

686 ATLANTIC SINKINGS Allies Not Winning Yet [Aust. *<?■■ N.Z. Cable Assn.] WASHINGTON, Jan 20. The United Press says Axis submarines have sunk 686 United Nations and neutral ships. A Navy spokesman said: “We are not winning the battle of transportation. The only sure defence is the convoy; that takes more ships than we can. muster, and even that is vulnerable. The Western Atlantic antisubmarine defences have forced the Germans to move southward to the Caribbean and Mexican Gulf, where they are still active. If we can stymie them there as effectively as from Canada to Trinidad, then we shall start winning the battle of transportation.” Full illumination of Allied convoys at night as a defence against U-boats is suggested by Admiral Yates Stirling. who said: "The Germans appear to have given up daylight attacks on convoys as too dangerous. They now attack at night in packs. At night,' a submarine usually attacks when, on the surface, then crash dives. I believe that the best defence would be full illumination of the convoy, so the U-boats could be seen by the escort vessels before the torpedoes are fired. Merchant ships would burn running lights, and could manoeuvre with safety. The warships would constantly sweep the set with powerful searchlights. This would be a radical departure from the old method of running in complete darkness, but might save many a ship.”