NAVAL SKIRMISH

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24879, 28 April 1944, Page 3

NAVAL SKIRMISH

FRENCH COASTAL AREA GERMAN DESTROYER SUNK LONDON, April 20 The Adifiiralty announces that British naval units encountered a force of three or four enemy destroyers in the vicinity of lie de BaSj off the north-west coast of France this morning, one German ship being sunk. When sighted, the enemy force altered course and endeavoured to escape at speed under cover of smoke. Star shells illuminated the destroyers and our ships immediately opened fire, obtaining several hits. A destroyer made an unsuccessful attempt to torpedo H.M.S. Black Prince. Meanwhile, British units continued to press home the attack. One enemy destroyer, which had been damaged earlier in the engagement, attempted to escape under cover of darkness She was intercepted, engaged at short range and hit repeatedly and finally sunk. The remainder of the enemy force escaped. The British units suffered only superficial damage and minor casualties. The cruiser Black Prince is apparently a new* cruiser. It has not been officially named before. The scene of today's action, lie de Bas. is north-west of Brest. An Admiralty communique reports that carrier-borne aircraft of the Royal Navy attacked a German convoy off Bodo, south-east of Lofoten Islands. Norway. Full reports are not yet available, but preliminary indications are that our aircraft hit four ships in the convoy and one escort. CANADIAN CONSCRIPTION (Reed. 7.45 p.m.) QUEBEC, April 27 The Quebec State Legislative Assembly, by 55 votes to 4. passed a motion expressing unyielding disapproval of any move to send conscripted men overseas. Mr. Rene (Tialonlt, a Nationalist, moving the motion, referred to the speech by the Dominion Minister of National Defence, Colonel J. Ralston, in which he said that, if necessary, conscripted men could be sent overseas by taking the appropriate measures. Mr. C'haloult pointed out that Canada introduced conscription because of the supposed danger of invasion. Now the danger had passed it should be abolished.