The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through, the post as a Newspaper WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1941. The Hood Avenged

Northern Advocate, 28 May 1941, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through, the post as a Newspaper WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1941. The Hood Avenged

WHILE regret for the loss of over 1300 British sailors who went down with the battle-cruiser Hood off the coast of Greenland, and sympathy with the families, of the victims will be none the less deep-seated, there cannot be other than satisfaction that the German battleship Bismarck which destroyed the Hood by, means of a lucky shell or salvo, has been sent to the bottom. . The sinking of the Bismarck, which was announced late last night, marks one of the outstanding events in the long and glorious history of the British Navy. Knowing that a German squadron, including the Bismarck,- the latest battleship to be launched by the Reich, was operating against convoys of ships carrying munitions to Britain from the United States, a British squadron has been seeking contact with the enemy for some time. It was not till last Friday night that contact was made off the coast of Greenland. At dawn on Saturday a battle began, in the course of which the Hood, the world’s biggest battlecruiser, was hit by the Bismarck, a magazine exploding and sending the great ship to the bottom, with practically the whole of her personnel. The Bismarck did not escape unscathed, for a bomber from the aircraft-carrier Ark Royal, secured a torpedo hit upon her. She continued to be strongly pressed, but after the loss of the Hood, the weather deteriorated, and the Bismarck was able to shake off her pursuers. Then began one of the greatest naval chases on record. It extended over something like 1700 miles, but it ended when the Bismarck was picked up by an Americanbuilt Catalonia aircraft when making for either Brest or St. Nazaire, in German occupied France. She was attacked during the afternoon by the British aircraft-carrier Ark Royal, which Germans have repeatedly claimed to have sunk, and four torpedoes struck her. The Bismarck’s steering gear was evidently damaged, for the battleship, like a wounded animal, went round in circles out of control, finally receiving fatal blows by torpedoes and gunfire and going to the bottom of the ocean. There is no information as to the fate of the other ships of the German squadron, but they have no doubt been engaged in a life and death struggle. With the destruction of the Bismarck, Germany has suffered irreparable naval damage, and the task of the British navy in fighting the Battle of the Atlantic has been considerably lightened. The Bismarck represented the last word in battleship construction and armament, and her sinking has seriously diminished Germany’s already sadly depleted naval strength. Two formidable ships, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, are to all intents and purposes prisoners in Brest harbour, where it is believed they have been damaged by R.A.F. bombers, which have paid frequent and effective attention to the big warships.

WELCOME NEWS

The great news of the British naval victory in the north Atlantic is particularly welcome at a moment when an unparalleled struggle is continuing in the eastern Mediterranean. Latest news indicates that the enemy has obtained a foothold on the island of Crete, and that the defenders, who are without aerial asistance, are engaged in hand-to-hand fighting of terrific nature.

The Nazi High Command, true to their tactics in other struggles, are entirely disregarding casualties. They hold that cost does not matter so long as an objective is secured, and, in accordance with that principle, they are reported to be throwing in men and machines without regard to losses. It remains to be seen whether these tactics will succeed. There is little doubt that a supreme effort is being made to secure possession of Crete, the occupation of which is vitally necessary to Germany. Whether there is a shortage of aircraft in Germany is a matter for speculation, but it is significant that since the Battle of Crete began there has been a cessation of raids upon Britain, while lessened air activity in Libya is reported. It is clear that the Germans are concentrating air power against the defenders of Crete. It is believed that the enemy has been unable to land seaborne troops in large numbers, the majority of the attackers having been air-borne. The navy’s success 1 in smashing convoys of ships obviously could not have been accomplished without loss, and it is therefore not surprising to learn that two British cruisers and four destroyers were sunk. That was to be expected, but it is a matter for thankfulness to learn that the larger portion of the ships’ personnel were saved. The Mediterranean fleet is still actively engaged in the waters which wash the Cretan shore, and there is good' reason to think that Germany’s chances of transporting sea-borne troops to the island are small.