DRAMATIC CHASE IN NORTH ATLANTIC

Southland Times, Issue 24446, 28 May 1941, Page 5

DRAMATIC CHASE IN NORTH ATLANTIC

PRINCE OF WALES AND ARK ROYAL TAKE PART

NAVAL PLANES ASSIST WARSHIPS (United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, May 27. The Bismarck, the latest and most powerful of Germany’s battle-ships, has been sunk after one of the most dramatic naval chases in history. This was announced in a brief Admiralty communique. The Bismarck had been hunted by warships and planes of the Fleet Air Arm ever since she sank the battle-cruiser Hood on Saturday. Details of the Battle which the Germans say took place in Denmark Strait, between Iceland and Greenland, have not yet been announced, but it is known that the Prince of Wales, Britain’s newest battleship, and the air-craft-carrier Ark Royal were engaged. One of the Ark Royal’s planes scored a torpedo-hit on the Bismarck. It was announced only a month ago that the Prince of Wales, which is a sister-ship of the King George V, was in. commission. It was discovered on Wednesday that the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen, a 10,000 ton cruiser, were in Bergen (Norway). The two ships left next day and the Admiralty arranged to intercept them in case they attacked British convoys in the North Atlantic. Contact was made at dawn on Saturday by the Prince of Wales and the Hood, but the Hood was sunk. The British ships then lost sight of the Germans, but the Bismarck was picked up again by a Catalina PBY flying-boat. Planes attacked the Bismarck, which was now alone, and soon afterwards the British ships opened fire and engaged the German battleship. There is no word of . the Prinz Eugen. j

The Naval correspondent of The Times said the Bismarck was hit by two torpedoes from a naval aircraft, which, while they might not have seriously damaged such a well-pro-tected ship, would almost certainly reduce her speed. It is known she left a Norwegian port on Thursday and her interception as early as Saturday was evidently the result of brilliant naval staff work. The operation on which the Bismarck was bent is not known, but clearly the enemy would hardly send out his newest and most powerful battleship except for a purpose to which he attached the highest importance. That purpose had now been frustrated. An Admiralty communique earlier announced that three days after the sinking of the Hood British forces were still pursuing the German naval units, including the Bismarck. Planes of the Fleet Air Arm had scored another hit with a torpedo on the already damaged vessel. GERMAN ADMISSION An official communique issued in Berlin early today said: “Since 9

o’clock last night the Bismarck has been engaged in a hard fight with superior enemy forces.” The Oslo radio stated that a German squadron, including the Bismarck, was fighting a superior British squadron in the Denmark Strait, between Iceland and Greenland.

The Bismarck, which was built by Blohm and Voss, was commissioned only last November. She was laid down in 1936 aud launched in 1938, Hitler being present at the ceremony. It was then claimed that she was unsinkable. The Bismarck had a speed of 30 knots and was armed with eight 15 inch and 12 5.9 inch guns. She carried four aircraft. Her standard displacement was 35,000 tons. The Prince of Wales, which was built by Cammnell Laird, was laid down on January 1, 1937 and launched on May 3, 1939. She has a displacement of 35,000 tons and is armed with 10 14 inch guns, of a calibre new to the service, 16 5.25 inch guns. Her armour includes enhanced defence against air attack and improved under-water protection.