U-BOAT WAR IN ATLANTIC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 11 April 1945, Page 5

U-BOAT WAR IN ATLANTIC

STILL SERIOUS. SAYS MR ALEXANDER (Rec. 11.15 a.m.) London, April 10. The continued seriousness pf the Üboat war was again emphasised by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr A. V. Alexander, speaking in London to-day. The enemy still attached great importance to U-boat warfare, he said, and it would be with us in all its perils until the final elimination of Germany. “The simple fact is,” he added, “that if we were to lose command of the North Atlantic we should all starve.” Mr Alexander quoted what he said was an incredible story from a submarine which had been attacked in P'ar Eastern waters. It was the case where Petty Officer Telegraphist Harmer. acting on his own initiative, clambered out of the conning tower on to the saddle tanks which wefe awash and began to plug the hull with blankets and hammocks. All the time shells ripped into the submarine and the blast from one tore off Harmer's boot and burned his feet, but he continued to hold the plugs in place with his bleeding and blistered feet until he could no longer hold on and was eventually washed away, but was fortunately rescued by his colleagues. Altogether this submarine fought off 25 intense air attacks of Japanese seaplanes, bombers and fighter-bombers, shot down one seaplane and damaged at least four other aircraft and survived nearly 50 bombs varying from 501bs to lOOOlbs.