STILL AT LARGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25852, 24 May 1945, Page 5

STILL AT LARGE

OCEAN GOING U-BOATS ALLIED NAVIES SEARCHING (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDONr, May 23. The United Nations’ navies are searching for about 12 U-boats, mostly of the big, ocean-going type, which are still at large, says the Daily Telegraph’s naval correspondent. They have neither surrendered nor reported themselves. Until they are located and rounded up strong escorts are being maintained for Atlantic shipping. A naval spokesman in Washington said it was officially confirmed that the Germans finished the war with about 500 submarines, including 170 operational vessels. Germany’s surrender came just in time to prevent another U-boat blitz. Nearly all the operational submarines, plus those nearing completion, were of a brand new type and obviously for an intensive campaign. The Allied navies, according to the navy are now wondering if the operations against the German U-boats have been more successful than the combined staffs knew, because 10 to 20 U-boats reported to be at sea when Germany surrendered are still unaccounted for. They may have been sunk, but not claimed for lack of conclusive proof.