Nazi Raiders Head for Port

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 124, 27 May 1941, Page 4

Nazi Raiders Head for Port

ENEMY WARSHIP TORPEDOED LONDON, Alay 25. British warships and Fleet Air Arm planes are pursuiug a German squadron across the North Atlantic after a battle in which the new German battleship Bismarck sank the British battlecruiser Hood, the largest warship in the world. It is believed that the action was fought about 900 miles west of the Norwegian coast. The German ships hold many advantages in their race for protection for their own shore bases, but the Hood, before suffering an unlucky hit which exploded her magazine and blew up the ship, inflicted damage on the German battleship which may have slowed her down. Since the main action, Fleet Air Arm planes have scored one hit with a torpedo on one of the German warships. An Admiralty communique issued today states: “After the engagement yesterday in tho North Atlantic, the enemy forces made every effort to shake off the pursuit. Later in the evening, nn attack by naval aircraft resulted in at least ono torpedo hit on the enemy. The operations are still proceeding with the object of bringing the enemy forces to close action.” Judging from the British and German communiques, the scene of the action between the Hood and the Bismarck would appear to be 900 to 1000 miles from tho nearest point in Nazi-occupied Norway, and this distance would take tho Bismarck nearly a day and a-half to cover, supposing her speed—estimated at about 30 knots—was not reduced in the action with the Hood. Although the distance to be covered by the fleeing German forces is a factor in. favour of their pursuers, seamen, point out that the difficulties of keeping contact with or finding ships at sea are not realised by those who have not experienced them. Everything depend* upon visibility, and the balance in this respect is always in favour of the pursued. He has the whole sea to choose from, and can take advantage of local rainstorm* or fog, apart from such artificial devices as smokescreens, to change course again and again w hen obscured from the view of the shadowing craft- ~ . , If contact was not established by nightfall or early this morning—and there are no indications that such i* the case—it is the “beginner’s luck*' of the new Nazi warship has held good, and it is advisable to postpone on this occasion the inevitable revenge which the Navy will exact. To-day’s German communique say* that the* Bismarck sank the Hood in a short, sharp fight, and that another British battleship of the King George V class was damaged. “Admiral Luetjens commands the Bismarck,” tne communique adds. “The units undef his command sank 22 enemy merchantmen and also tho auxiliary cruise Jervis Bay.”