GERMAN SHIP SUNK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24255, 25 March 1940, Page 7

GERMAN SHIP SUNK

OFF DANISH COAST ACTION BY SUBMARINE LOOPHOLE IN BLOCKADE NAVY’S ANSWER TO CRITICS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Mar. 23. (Received Mar. 24,-.at-6,30 p.m.) The Admiralty announced that on the evening of March 21 one of his Majesty’s submarines intercepted a German ship, the Heddernheim (4947 tons), eight miles from the coast of Denmark, The submarine reported that the crew was safe and that she had sunk the Heddernheim, The Heddernheim is believed to be the first German merchantman sunk by torpedo since the outbreak of war. A Copenhagen message states that the vessel was sunk 15 miles east of Frederikshayen. The submarine carried off the first engineer, A coastguard cutter picked up the remaining 35 members of the crew. Regard for Crew’s Safety Thirty-five members of the crew of the Heddernheim were landed on the north coast of Denmark. It was revealed that the captain gave his uniform to the chief engineer and disguised himself as - a member of the crew. . For this reason the British submarine took the engineer prisoner in mistake for the captain. The commander of the British submarine which Saak the; Heddernheim followed the vessel for a long time; before intercepting ..it because he realised that owing to',the heavy sea and fog the crew would have little chance if forced to take to the boats: The submarine pursued the Heddernheim until she was close to the. coast and then, "knowing the crew was almost certain to be saved, intercepted and sank ,the ship-after the crew had left, The sinking of the Heddernheim is the Navy’s first answer to the recent criticisms that the route from Narvik was one of.the most.serious loopholes in the blockade, The Hedderhheim Was laden with of e, ; • 'Die submarine - slipped up the Skagerrak at night and intercepted the Heddernheim.; Which was forced oiit from the coast owing to shallows and was trying tb steal across.international waters .between Denmark and Norway. Coastal residents heard three shots , and then a tremendous explosion. - . German Allegations . . The Official News Agency, says a British plane on March 21 bombed the -.German merchantman Engriss between Erriden arid Hamburg. The ship was not : hit. A German plane drove off the attacker. The agency asserts-that this is the latest of several British air attacks on unarmed merchantmen, saying that the Kiel and the Linafisser were recently similarly attacked, neither being hit. The Swedish ship Buenos Aires was also attacked; The Engfiss is not listed at Lloyd’s.

NAZI RAIDERS ATTACKS ON’ CONVOY DRIVEN OFF BY 'R.A.F.; ESCORT ONE ENEMY LOSS APPARENT Official .Wireless) V • RUGBY,, Mar. 1 22.. An Admiralty press notice states that On Wednesday at 6.50 p.m. a flight of three of the Fleet Air, Arm aircraft forming part of a convoy escort made contact with an enemy formation of ten Heinkel 111 bombers. . The leader of the Fleet Air Arm planes at once formed his flight 'into line astern and attacked the nearest enemy machine. The German machines, which, had also been in line astern, at once broke formation and commenced unloading their bombs into the sea and climbing to the shelter of the clouds. The pilot of the leading British machine, however, manoeuvred into a favourable position" and succeeded in remaining so placed until he had fired all his ammunition. The enemy planes were then lost sight of in the clouds. Shortly afterwards several enemy aircraft reappeared and endeavoured to press home their attack on the convoy. The British machines'were by this time split up. but one aircraft, piloted by a petty-officer, attacked four enemy machines ahd succeded in driving them off. This action ended at 7 p.m. At 7.30 p.m. on the same day another flight of three Fleet Air Arm aircraft was returning from convoy escort duty when the observer in the leader’s aircraft noticed firing to seaward and at once turned to investigate. A single enemy machine was sighted being pursued by three aircraft of the ,Coastal,Command of the R.A.F. The Fleet Air Ami aircraft gave chase; but the enemy was . lost in the clouds just before the Fleet Air Arm machines got within range. The chase was broken off, and the Fleet Air Arm flight was returning towards its base when the leader saw a German aircraft machine-gunning a merchant ship. He gained position above the enemy unobserved and dived to the attack, closing to within 50 yards range of the German. At this distance the slipstream of the large German machine affected the British aircraft and threw the sight off. The British machine at once turned and renewed the „ attack, pressing it home to close range and firing short bursts into the enemy with good effect. Quantities of oil poured from the German machine, and this smothered the windscreen of the British • aircraft. The pilot, however, was able to see that the enemy aircraft was climbing slowly towards the clouds with its undercarriage hanging down. The attack could not. however, be renewed, as the ammunition of the British aircraft was expended. There seems no doubt, however, that this was the enemy aircraft referred to in the German High Command communique as having failed to return : to its base. ■ S ", ■. ■