LATE NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25090, 4 December 1942, Page 3

LATE NEWS

NAVAL LOSSES NORTH AFRICAN EXPEDITION (Hec. 1.40 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. The First Lord of the Admiralty, M* A. V. Alexander, gave a survey in th« House of Commons to-day of the naval operations in North Africa. He said that after a long period of preparation the success of the expedition depended on the enemy’s remaining ignorant of its destination. The risk was considerable, ho said, but the success in deceiving the enemy was complete. Our losses were severe, but less than might have been expected, and tar less than the enemy’s claims. The following losses were enumerated by Mr Alexander:—Two destroyers, the Broke (1480 tons) and the Martin (1920 tons), the corvette Gardenia, two cutters, one sloop, a depot ship, a minesweeper, an antiaircraft escort ship, and the small aircraft-carrier Avenger. A Dutch destroyer was also lost. Two American ex-Coastguard cutters were included in the list of ships given by Mr Alexander, who added that merchant shipping losses were not being disclosed, as that information was greatly desired by the enemy.

ENEMY CONVOY SMASHED A SPIRITED ENGAGEMENT (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. A British Admiralty communique states that on Tuesday night light naval forces engaged an enemy convoy bound for Tunisia and sank four ships and two destroyers. . Planes sighted the convoy, and the attack was made by ships sent out after midnight. The six ships were sunk in the spirited engagement which followed. The British force consisted of three cruisers and two destroyers. There were no casualties or damage during the engagement, but later enemy planes attacked the force on its way back to the base, and the destroyer Quentin was subsequently sunk. It is believed that the majority of her company were rescued, FRANKFURT RAIDED (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. British bombers were out over Northern Germany last night when the city of Frankfurt was the principal target. Six of the bombers faffed to return. Frankfurt is an important railway junction and the terminus of the Rhine River traffic. It has a population o£ about 500,000.