WAR AGAINST U-BOATS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25101, 17 December 1942, Page 5

WAR AGAINST U-BOATS

THE BRITISH MEASURES EFFICIENCY OF SYSTEM RUGBY, Dec. 15. “The prime and direct conduct of the war against the U-boats rests with the Admiralty, which has at its disposal the full assistance of the R.A.F. Coastal Command,” Mr Churchill said in the House of Commons when giving a comprehensive statement on the antisubmarine campaign.

Mr Churchill said he had formed a “ Battle of the Atlantic Committee ” in order to focus and emphasise the need for supreme exertion against the U-boat menace. At first its meetings were held every week, and then at longer intervals. A great alleviation of our losses occurred up to December, 1941, and during 1942. He was satisfied that the organisation was running .with complete smoothness and efficiency. In October, 1942, an additional effort had become necessary because of the increasing part the air was beginning to play against the Üboats consequent on the complicated development of air weapons of all kinds. Therefore he reconstructed the Battle of the Atlantic Committee under the title "Anti-U-boat Warfaje Committee.”

The first meeting of the new committee had been held on November 4, and he invited Sir Stafford Cripps to act as his deputy because of his special aptitude for forming a sound lay opinion on highly technical issues. He had invited General Smuts to attend the second and third meetings of the committee. General Smuts had also visited the Admiralty, and had said he was satisfied with the character and efficiency of the system of anti-U-boat warfare. The composition of the new committee was; Mr Churchill (chairman), Sir Stafford Cripps (deputy chairman), the Minister of Production, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Secretary of State for the Air, the Minister of War Transport, the First Sea Lord, and the Chief of the Air Staff. Technical advisers were present as required.

“It must not be supposed,” concluded Mr Churchill, “thst the committee replaces the regular and systematic control of anti-U-boat warfare by the Admiralty. There is no question of appointing a naval super commander-in-chief under the Admiralty or a special Minister to deal with the campaign. The war at sea is all one, and the Admiralty organisation has been, and is, subject to continual improvement and refinement, and has been adapted to deal with it as a whole.”