WARSHIPS' ESCAPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24203, 19 February 1942, Page 8

WARSHIPS' ESCAPE

HAZARDOUS OPERATION FORCES PINNED DOWN DELAY IN DETECTION SECRET INQUIRY ORDERED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON. Feb 17 Mr. Churchill, making a statement in the House of Commons, said that in March last the two German warships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau took refuge in Brest harbour, where they were joined in May by the Prinz Eugen after the destruction of the Bismarck. The position of thes( three ships became a serious preoccupation for the Admiralty.

"They lay on the flank ot our main convoy routes to the east." said the Prime "-Minister. "They could make a sortie at any time on the Atlantic trade routes or in the Mediterranean Accordingly the Admiralty pressed for a continued attack from the air, in the hope of disabling them or preventing them from being repaired. This process was continued for more than 10 months, during which time the ships were undoubtedly hit several times, and repair work was made very difficult.

Heavy Air Force Losses "No less than 4000 tons of bombs were dropped by bombing sorties on Brest by ."l2py aircraft fnr a loss ot 2ii" Air Force personnel and aircraft. As we were never in a position to know when some or all of these ships might put to sea. the situation entailed almost continuous naval precautions in the hope of being ready at all times to meet the various threats that these ships constituted.

'A further serious feature was the very grievous subtraction from the bombing effort against Germany. The bombing of these ships was so severe that the Germans evidently came to the decision that they could not maintain them any longer at Brest, and they must return to Germany. We do not know whether this was tor the purpose of effecting final repairs or enabling them to work up lull efficiency in the sheltered waters of the Baltic.

Serious Risk Taken "However that may be, the Germans resolved to try to take these ships back to Germany. This very hazardous operation could have been done by sailing round the British isles and returning via .Norway, or by a dash up the (J-barmel. Tlie Germans rejected tlie plan of returning north and preferred to ran the admittedly serious risks oi a Channel passage. "In the Atlantic they would run a greater risk of being attacked by air, irom extensive' reconnaissances from shore and from aircraft-carriers, and of being slowed down by torpedo attacks if brought tfl action against overwhelming forces, as was the Bismarck. The Channel route, on the other hand, was a run, possibly by surprise, ol under 24 hours, part of which could be made in darkness, and they had the opportunity of choosing the weather which would be most favourable. Air Protection "For the whole way through the Channel and along the Dutch coast they had the advantage of a powerful air umbrella. The danger of running past the Dover batteries under suitable weather conditions was not great Our slow convoys repeatedly traverse the Strait of Dover and are repeatedly bombarded by the guns on the French coast, but this has not stopped our convoys. One great danger was mines This they might hope to avoid by energetic sweeping. "There remained, therefore, action of surface craft and aircraft. Air reconnaissance would show the Germans that neither heavy cruisers nor even light cruisers were in the narrow Strait and therefore attacks of flotillas of destroyers and small torpedo boats were all that need be expected, apart from the air.

"Some people seem to think that heavy forces should have been stationed so as to have been able to intercept them in the Channel or the North Sea Had we done so our ships "would have been open to the same scale of attack as the German ships at Brest Further, such dispositions would have dangerously weakened the preventive measures we have taken to safeguard convoys and guard the northern passage, and to deal with other German heavy ships Attacked With Courage

"The Admiralty did not consider the attempt to run the Channel would be an impossible operation under the conditions which prevailed, but this was certainly much less apprehended than that they should break out on to the trade routes or into the Mediterranean. No one can doubt the vigour and courage with which the enemy squadron was attacked as soon as its movements were perceived, and, of course, everyone was very sorry these ships were not sunk. The only questions which are open are, firstly, why was their movement not detected shortly after daylight; secondly, was conduct and liaison between the Coastal Command and also between the other Royal Air Force commands and the Admiralty as close as it should have been v

"At the suggestion of the Admiralty and the Air Ministry I have directed that an inquiry shall be held into these points. The inquiry will be in secret. ?nd 1 doubt very much whether, when it is completed, its result will be suitable for publication. I am not prepared to give any information about the inquiry, or any undertaking that its result will be made public. Tf anyone is found guilty of dereliction of duty disciplinary action will follow." It is stated that Lord .Justice Bucknill will conduct the inquiry mentioned by Mr. Churchill.

INDIA PREPARES

DEFENCE OF CITIES DANGER FROM THE SEA f"Rerci r_> 40 a.m.) LONDON Feb l » The cities of India are manning their defences The local government of Madras. in view of the increased danger of attack from the sea, has advised those intending to 'cave, and who have no irgent business in Madras, to leave as soon as pos-ihle. Citizens of Bombay, from all communities, including members of the ( ongress Party, nut to consider the defence of the city and formed an A H P. organisation. Ihe chairman appealed for help for thousands of Indians arriving from Singapore.

WIDE-SPREAD RAIDS AIR FIELDS IN HOLLAND LONDON. Fob it The Air Ministry communique states: ' The Bomber Command last in gut attacked ports in north-west Germany and airfields in Holland, and Hurricane bombers of the Fighter Commany attacked shipping ofi tho French coast, damaging at least one enemy patrol vessel. The Coastal Command yesterday attacked a small convoy in the Bftygof Biscay. Three small ships wern hit? two being sunk and a third left down by the bows. One Bomber **>«? m arid one Coastal tJrimnimi'l g nie ir:> missing "