ATTACK ON U.S. CONVOY

Southland Times, Issue 24862, 30 September 1942, Page 5

ATTACK ON U.S. CONVOY

German Claims Denied LONDON, September 28, A special German communique states that U-boats in the North Atlantic during a several days’ attack . destroyed the large part of a fast-sailing United States convoy on its way to Britain. The convoy comprised a few large strongly-escorted passenger steamers laden with troops, munitions, and war material. U-boats sank a 19,000-ton steamer,' which overturned after it had been three times torpedoed. U-boats twice scored direct torpedo hits on a 17,000ton ship, which blew up. They also sank an 11,000-ton transport and a destroyer and damaged two transports. U-boats in other Atlantic waters from Africa to the United States coast sank a further 11 ships, totalling 57,000 tons, making a total of 14 merchantmen sunk during the past four days. The German News Agency stated that U-boats picked up some prisoners. The three large liners sunk were equipped to carry 13,000 men, plus their equipment. The Berlin radio declared that these convoy sinkings make a total of 146 Allied ships, totalling 953,000 tons, sunk in September, which is the highest for any month of 1942. The German High Command stated that the three ships sunk were the Viceroy of India, the Reinadel Pacifico and the Derbyshire. All are in Lloyds’ Register. It is stated in London that the German claims are absolutely untrue.