Feat Of Seamanship

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1944, Page 7

Feat Of Seamanship

LONDON, June 6. British and American landing craf£ transported ground forces across the Channel. It is pointed out at Shaef headquarters that this task entailed a tremendous amount of planning and organisation. One of the greatest problems overcome was that many different groups of vessels did not .-team at the same speed. Most harbour mouths they left were narrow, so they had to

leave in long processions, whereas, on arrival on the far shore, they had to be in groups, many of which had to arrive simultaneously.

Most intensive training was carried out to enable commanders of the craft to obtain a high standard of seamanlike skill, but many had only brief experience in the method of carrying an army across the Channel in large numbers. It was an immense achievement.

D.N.B. claims that an Allied cruiser and a large ianding'-craft carrying troops were sunk 15 miles south-east of Cherbourg. One German warship was sunk. ‘‘From what I could see from a bomber in the first few minutes, there was nothing stopping the assault parties getting ashore,” says a .United Press correspondent. ‘‘Wounded were being brought back in special hospital landing-craft. Naval doctors were reported to be saving hundreds of lives by performing emergency operations on tables tied to decks.” Rcyal Navy Biggest Contributor

German destroyers and E-boats, rushing into the operation area, arc doubtless being dealt with, said Supreme Headquarters. The German navy is represented by only a tew destroyers and E-bcats. German broadcasts said that a furious battie between German E-boats and Allied warships was raging off Le Havre. British an.L American air forces, which were out in great strength, provided the main defence for landing-craft, says a correspondent at Allied headquarters. The naval defence h mainly concerned with destroyers, torpedo-boats, E-boats and R-boats. The R.A.F.’s Coastal Command also sconced for submarines.

The minesweeping operation by the Navy was the greatest ever carried out.

The British and American Navies provided the bulk of naval forces engaged. The British provided three to ihe American's one of the normal type warships, but the overall proportion, including landing-craft, was three British to two American. The Canadian Navy made substantial contribution. Norwegian. Polish, Dutch, French and Greek navies also took part.