SINKING OF U-BOATS

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1943, Page 5

SINKING OF U-BOATS

LAST MONTH’S TOTAL

Estimated at Over Thirty

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 7.30) LONDON, June 4. The “Dailw Mail’s” naval correspondent says: We can look back on May as being a turning-point m tn. long-drawn battle against the Üboats. Detailed checks of all information available in London ana Washington confirm the fact tnat more than thirty U-boats were sunk in the Atlantic by sea and air attack in May. On a basis of a ratio or three U-boats being damaged to eacn one that is sunk which ratio was maintained in the last war this means that the Axis was denied the use or a further ninety U-boats while they were undergoing repair. The May figures represent one-third of an advance on the average kills for December, January and February last. This vital third has for the first time in this war, made the rate of destruction higher than that of the total construction. The corresonpdent also points out: “It is the rate of sinkings, not the total of them, which makes the May figures important, because the Germans are far from short of U-boats, and they can concentrate large pa'cks on junctions of our sea lanes at any, time. Another factor is the destruction by R.A.F. planes of hulls under assembly, which reduced the. German U-boat building programme by nearly one-third. This side of the battle has prevented Germany from increasing her building programme since the beginning of the year, as she had intended. Her production still stands at thirty U-boats per month. The real battle remains in the Atlantic, where the work of escort carriers, several of which are now commissioned cannot be overlooked.” GERMAN ADMISSION. (Rec. 11.30 ) LONDON, June 4. The “Exchange Telegraph” Berlin correspondent says:—The German Admiralty admits that the Allied Navies’ success against U-boats, and a considerable reduction in British shipping losses are due to greatly improved defence methods. Captain Rudolf Khrone, a member of Admiral Donetz’s staff, in an article in the “Voelkischer Beobachter” says: The. Allies possess a new submarine finder, enabling detection of U-boats at long distances, and thus forcing them to operate with great caution. The Allies succeeded in temporarily disturbing our strategical and tactical plans for the U-boat campaign.

It is hoped German industry will soon find new weapons against increased Allied defence strength. New tactics must be found.