LOSSES AT SEA

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1943, Page 5

LOSSES AT SEA

MARCH WORST MONTH THIS YEAR. RUGBY, April 1. It has been announced that March was the worst month so far this year lor losses caused by U-boat action, although sinkings were lower than in any month last year. U-Boat Routed BY 30-YEAR OLD U.S. MERCHANTMAN. (Rec. 10.30.) WASHINGTON, April 1. A Navy gun crew aboard the thirty years old merchantman “Columbian” recently routed a Nazi submarine in a gun duel, escaping without damage, but leaving the U-boat dead in the water. The Navy Department stated: The surfaced U-boat sighted the Columbian later in the afternoon, and closed in at full speed expecting an easy kill. The submarine opened up with machine-guns. The gun crew immediately returned the fire, sweeping the U-boat deck clean with a direct hit from a heavy gun. They then struck the submarine squarely below the conning-tower, causing a violent explosion. The Columbian’s crew was not hurt. The gun crew was awarded Silver Star . medals and letters of commendation from the Secretary of the Naw (Colonel Knox). ‘