IN THE AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1940, Page 5

IN THE AIR

GERMAN CLAIMS ■

LAUGHED AT BY BRITAIN.

(Per British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, March 18.

Tlie interest caused by the German High Command’s claims to successes in last Saturday evening’s Scapa Flow raid is deepening into amusement, after a reported broadcast by the : commander .of the Nazi raiders, Major Albert Ddensch, who is said to have claimed that his force made “direct hits, with larger bombs on the “Hood,” “Repulse-” and “it on own. ” Although this is the first time that the Germans claim to have damaged the “Renown,” the “Hood,” according to their former claims, must have been too much damaged by previous successful Nafii assaults to be seaworthy yet; while the “Repulse”’ has been almost perpetually included_ as “severely damaged” whenever the Nazi propagandists have considered the time ripe for a little heartening news., The wide divergence of the German claims from the actual facts is thought to lend colour to a'Ssuggestion from neutral countries that ,tlie raid was specially ordered by Herr Hitler in an endeavour to impress Signor Mussolini with the superiority of the German Air Force.