U-BOAT LOSSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23601, 9 March 1940, Page 11

U-BOAT LOSSES

FRANCE CLAIMS TWELVE ANOTHER SUNK BY BRITISH GOOD WORK OF NAVIES By Telegraph Press Association —Copyright (Received March 8, p.m.) PA I? IS, March 7 The Minister of the Navy, M. Campinchi, announced to-day that the destroyer Siiuoun has just increased to 12 the number of U-boats the French Navy has sunk since the outbreak of the war. The Minister added that 18,000 tons of German shipping has been captured and France has sunk one submarine for every merchant man she had lost. The Germans had not sunk one French warship.

The enemy had succeeded in sinking 15 French merchantmen, totalling 71,511 tons, but with new French merchantmen and the incorporation of captured ships the French commercial fleet had made a loss of under 2 per cent, said M. Campinchi. French ports and Imperial sea communications were free, in spite of mines, submarines and aeroplanes. In the six months of war the Navy had convoyed 2000 vessels, comprising 300 convoys. Only four ships were lost. The Allies had broken the back of Germany's triple sea threat. The Rome radio to-da.v announced that according to a message from Gibraltar a British warship sank a U-boat.

VICTIM OF NAZIS ITALIAN STEAMER BOMBED FROM THE AIR VESSEL SET ON FIRE LONDON, March 7 The Italian steamer Amelia Lauro, of 5335 tons, is on fire in the North Sea after being bombed from a German aeroplane. The first news of the attack came from her own radio. Another Italian ship, the Titania, of 535) tons, which was in the vicinity, rushed to the assistance of the Amelia Lnuro. Later she wirelessed that she was launching her lifeboats to rescue the crew from the burning vessel.

DUTCH SHIP'S FATE DISCOVERY OF WRECKAGE CREW OF 18 MISSING (Keceived March 8, 5.35 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 7 The Dutch steamer Grutto, of 920 tons, with the 18 members of her crew disappeared after her departure from London on Tuesday. Wreckage hearing the name "Grutto" was found to-day in the North Sea. It was identified from a vessel bound for America and picked up off the Zeeland coast.

BLACK SEA MINES TASK FOR TURKISH NAVY BULGARIAN AIRCRAFT DOWN (Received March 8, 5.35 p.m.) ANKARA, March 7 The Turkish Navy has been ordered to sweep up a large number of floating Russian mines discovered off Turkish Black Sea ports. Turkish batteries brought down a Bulgarian aeroplane which was flying over Turkish territory.

NORWAY AND GERMANY DISPUTE OVER A SINKING (JReceived March 8, 5.35 p.m.) OSLO, March 7 Norway has rejected the German answer to the Norwegian Note protesting against the sinking of the Eika on February 18. Norway has renewed her demand for compensation. The German reply alleged that the Eika tried to ram a submarine and that her nationality markings were not clearly visible. Norway denies both statements.

JAPAN AND ITALY PROMISE OF SUPPORT (Received March 9, 12.45 a.m.) TOKIO. March 8 The Foreign Office spokesman said Japan was fully prepared to support Italy in securing the rights of neutral Governments.