NAVAL STRENGTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24285, 28 May 1942, Page 3

NAVAL STRENGTH

BRITAIN'S EQUALITY

GROWTH IN MEDITERRANEAN LONDON. May 26 "The time has come when we have forces to meet the enemy in the Mediterranean on terms of equality," said Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, until recently Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean. "I have every confidence that if we have learned the lessons of 1940-41-42 we will rapidly and surely overwhelm him. "Until now wo have lacked the very essentials for victory. If, in the circumstances of the past, men could achieve so much, what will they not be able to do when, at length, they have the means? "We must learn the lesson that sufficient* trained air forces are an indispensable part of sea power. The Navy can never have complete mastery of its own element unless it controls absolutely all tactical instruments requisite for action at sea. The passage of tlio Scharnliorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen through the Channel suggests that, however good the liaison between the Coastal Command and tho Navy may be, there is room for improvement. If the Services could integrate the problem would be solved. "We have already lost a formidable fleet in Far Eastern waters, chiefly due to dive-bombers and torpedo-carriers. British ships appear to succumb more readily to this form of attack than enemy vessels. The question arises whether enemy ships are better armoured than ours or whether British torpedoes are le.ss powerful. There is urgent need to provide the Fleet Air Arm with better torpedo-carrying machines. "Dive-bombers are excellent and most dangerous weapons, but they have not much range. Thero are other methods of destroying a fleet." Admiral Cunningham said he did not believe tho French Fleet at Toulon would fall into German hands. SPITFIRES' ATTACKS MINESWEEPER ABLAZE TARGETS IN NORTHERN FRANCE (Reed. 5,35 p.m.) LONDON, May 20 The Air Ministry news service states that Spitfires this afternoon attacked enemy shipping otf Belgium, while others went for targets in occupied France, says the British official wireless. All returned safely. In tho shipping attack one of two armed minesweepers was loft badly damaged. The two vessels were seen just oft' Ostend and in spite of fierce return lire our pilots made low-level attacks. The leading minesweeper was raked with cannon and machine-gun fire. The pilots saw their shells explode on the water lino and on the decks and superstructure of this vessel, which was last seen burning fiercely in the stern and leaving a trail of oil. Other Spitfires over France were not engaged by the enemy. They went down to attack targets on the railway near Lo Camp. One plane is missing from a patrol in the morning, but the pilot was picked up. FIGHTING IN HILLS PHILIPPINES RESISTANCE LONDON, May 27 The first intimation for some time as to what is happening in the Philippines came to-day from Dr. Manuel Quezon, the president, who is now in Washington. Ho said that thousands of American and Filipino soldiers are still resisting the Japanese in the hills. They would continue to sting the enemy like angry wasps, and there was no way the Japanese could break their spirit. At tho time of the fall of Corregidor, Tokio announced that the Commander of the United States forces, General Wainwriglit, had agreed on unconditional surrender throughout the Philippines, but the United States War Department emphasised at the time that it had no official information on the subject. SCOURGE OF HUNGER REVOLTING GERMAN POLICY LONDON, May 27 The systematic plundering of Europe is described by the Times to-day as a revolting principle of German policy. Hitler has thus brought the scourge of hunger to Europe so that in some places dogs' meat at 18s a lb. and cats' meat at 20s a lb. become luxuries, states the Times. The principle of the Herrinvolk is being applied in varying degrees. The ration always favours the invader, and there is less food for those to whom it rightfully belongs because the Germans require more. Hunger is being brought to an everwidening circle of Europeans. The paper recalls the special circumstances which had made it possible for tho British and other Governments to send limited relief to Greece, but with this exception it is at present beyond human power to alleviate the tragedy of Europe. After victory it will rest with ourselves and America to bring swift succour to the looted lands and hungry inhabitants, the Times concludes. ANOTHER U-BOAT SUNK (Reed. 7.15 p.m.) NEW YORK', May 20 Another enemy submarine has been sunk off Pernambuco by an American bomber, says a message from Port Aleza, Brazil.