Scapa Flow Dangers Too Easily Valued

Northern Advocate, 9 November 1939, Page 5

Scapa Flow Dangers Too Easily Valued

(Received 3.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 8.

The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence (Lord Chatfield) in a statement in the House of Lords regarding the sinking of the Royal Oak, said that the long familiar immunity of Scapa Flow in the last war led to too easy a valuation of the dangers. Both the Admiralty and the Fleet accepted undue risks, yet, to highly competent people it seems no greater than other risks accepted continually as part of the regular routine, U-Boat Penetrated Defences. Lord Chatfield said the German submarine penetrated the defences of Scapa Flow and sank the battleship. The defences consisted of nets, booms, blockships and patrolling craft guarding seven entrances, none of which were in a state of strength and efficiency that would make an anchorage absolutely safe against submarines. Measures had been taken to improve physical obstruction.

It was essential while defences wore incomplete that patrolling craff should be numerous, but the number was reduced below requirements for a variety of reasons which he could not disclose, as it would reveal information valuable to the enemy. Thought It Was Air Raid After a torpedo struck the Royal Oak, none of the vigilant and experienced officers conceived that it could bo a torpedo, thus showing the sense of immunity prevailing at Scapa. At first an air raid was apprehended and large numbers of the men took up air-raid stations under armour and were thus drowned While the admiral and captain were examining an alternative possibility of an internal explosion, a second salvo of torpedoes was discharged. No Judicial Inquiry “We mourn the loss of 800 gallant officers and men,” he .said.

“The Admiralty, on which responsibilty broadly rests, has resolved that it learnt a bitter lesson. The Government does not propose a judicial inquiry, which would impose an additional burden on those engaged in an intense and ng>t wholly unsuccessful struggle.