RISKS NECESSARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24249, 15 April 1942, Page 6

RISKS NECESSARY

CONVOYS AT SEA AIR PROTECTION LIMITS INDIAN OCEAN SINKINGS COMMAND OF FLEET By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Reed.' 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, April 14 Referring in the House of Commons to the sinking in the Indian Ocean of the cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall and the aircraft carrier Hermes, the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, said that many scores of British ships had to be at sea without the desired air protection. He .added that unless these risks were taken there was no means of carrying out the immense tasks of convoying. Mr.' Churchill said that heavy losses were inflicted on the Japanese aircraft during the . attack on Ceylon, but we also suffered seriously, although to a lesser extent. Damage was also done to shore establishments and to a few ships which remained in the harbour. While the Japanese were attacking Colombo from the air, British torpedo aircraft sallied out to attack the carriers from which the attack was being delivered, but owing to thunderstorms and low clouds they were not able to make contact.

During the attack on Trincomalee our torpedo aircraft, fighters and bombers attacked in such numbers as were available, and near misses were scored on a Japanese aircraft-carrier. Practically all the British aircraft taking part in tins attack were either knocked out or, damaged. • The news that Admiral Sir James Somerville had been appointed Com-mander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet, in succession to Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey , Lay ton," and had thus given up command of the famous striking force based on Gibraltar, was given by Mr. Churchill when he disclosed that Admiral Somerville was in command of the naval operations in the action off Ceylon. Mr. Churchill described Admiral Somerville as having an almost unrivalled experience of modern warfare. ' , A message from Madras states that - elaborate civil defence measures are being undertaken there. They include the provision of emergency eating places and evacuee camps. Similar precautions are being taken in the coastal districts of "Orissa. About 130,000 persons have been evacuated from Madras since April 7. Special trains are leaving every day for the interior.