ATTACKS ON U.S. SHIPS

Southland Times, Issue 24648, 21 January 1942, Page 5

ATTACKS ON U.S. SHIPS

FOURTH IN WEEK

U-BOATS “AS THICK AS CATFISH”

(Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 19. The fourth attack by a submarine on an American ship near the Atlantic coast has brought the entire resources of the Army, Navy and Coastal units into focus to find the Axis raiders, which are believed to be operating in a pack and to be ranging up and down the coast from Canada to Florida. Survivors of a Panama freighter landed at an East Coast Canadian port said that the enemy submarines were “almost as thick as catfish” in the waters where their ship was attacked. The Navy announced that the standard oil tanker Allen Jackson was torpedoed and sunk off the North Carolina coast. There were 13 survivors of a crew of 35. The remainder were apparently drowned or burned to death. This is the third merchantman sunk near the American east coast within five days. A later message states survivors of the Allan Jackson told grim stories of their struggles to escape the flames after spending six terrifying hours in an open boat battling to keep clear of the suction of the burning, sinking ship from which oil flames spread rapidly. The Navy announced that the United States tanker, Malay (8000 tons), was damaged by a submarine off the Atlantic coast. The vessel is approaching safety in an Atlantic port. No information is yet available of the extent of the damage. The crew is believed to be safe. The Malay is the fourth submarine victim since January 14. Mr Carl Vinson, chairman of > the Naval Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives introduced legislation authorizing the construction of 1800 combatant, auxiliary, and patrol vessels in addition to those previously authorised. The merchantmen, Santa Elisa and the San Jose collided off Atlantic City. The Santa Elisa caught fire while the San Jose sank. Twenty-nine survivors have been picked up.