COMBATING THE E-BOATS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25563, 16 June 1944, Page 3

COMBATING THE E-BOATS

NAVY'S TWO METHODS ENEMY ADMITS EFFICIENCY (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, June 14. The navy is employing two methods to combat the menace of the German E-boats, which are operating at nighttime, mostly from Cherbourg and Le Havre, on each flank of- “ Liberation Lane,” which is the nickname for the vital convoy route, says the Daily Telegraph’s naval correspondent. The methods are: First, constant destroyer and light naval craft patrols maintained at the flanks of “ Liberation Lane,” besides close escort given to every convoy; secondly, light coastal forces maintain an all-night close blockade of E-boat bases with the object of damaging E-boats when they put to sea or when they return from a night’s work. The Berlin radio naval reporter says: “ Our E-boats and motor torpedo-boats at night time are obliged to sneak- out from port because every exit is blocked by a veritable floating city of enemy warships. We also have to contend with the enemy’s 10 times accursed shipping illuminations, which make the scene like west-end peace-time. On Tuesday night, as soon as we put our noses out of the harbour we almost ran up against the muzzles of a heavy cruiser with a radio locator fitted to the mast. We dodged and ran into another cruiser attended by 16 destroyers.”