NATAL FORCES CLASH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 258, 29 September 1943, Page 5

NATAL FORCES CLASH

(Rec. 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. Light coastal forces, operating north of Le Havre, yesterday morning made a surprise attack from close range on three heavily-armed enemy patrol boats says an Admiralty communique. They blew up one patrol boat, scverly damaged the second., and left the third burning fiercely. Our forces safely returned to harbour. One officer was slightly wounded. ATTACK ON E-BOATS. A group of E-boats was intercepted and engaged in the North Sea at close range in bad visibility on Saturday by the corvette Puffin, commanded by Lieut.-Conunander A._S. Miller, of Takapuna, says the special correspondent of the Press Association. The E-boats retired behind.a smokescreen, but not before several shells found their mark.

Commander Miller said: “The fight took place at top speed. We managed to 'close to short range and keep up a heavy barrage of fire, to which the enemy, who was concentrating on eluding us, made little reply. Though the enemy made as much use as possible of his smokescreen, we saw him under the light of our star-shells, and wo appeared to score several hits, but it was not possible to observe the results.”