A CLAIM DISPUTED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 61, Issue 4341, 4 October 1940, Page 5

A CLAIM DISPUTED

HITLER’S BLOCKADE THREAT A "DUD,” AN OBSERVER’S CONVICTION. (By W.8.) LONDON, September. 13. A trip in convoy, right under the nose of Germany’s bombers along the east coast of England, has proved to me that Hitler’s threat to have blockaded Britain completely is a “dud.” We were bombed and machinegunned; our ship went into action; but not one vessel in the convoy was touched. All arrived at our destination ready for more. Surrounded by barrage balloons swinging in the night sky, with war ships growling on the sidelines as they raised steam, 40 sea-scarred tramps from all oceans of the world gathered in an English anchorage to run the gauntlet of dive-bombers. The ship to which I was allotted more than once has slipped up t.he Yarra and through Sydney Heads.

As the liberty boat began the mile Toy age from the jetty to put me on board soon after midnight, an air raid siren moaned inshore. Before <ts querulous note died away a lone aircraft engine was heard high overhead.

Soon others followed. There were so many that their engines provided a low continuous boom. When the liberty boat reached the ship a rope ladder was thrown down, and I began to climb the 20ft. to the deck. Before I had gone a few steps the enemy dropped a parachute flare, which lit up the scene with a vivid orange glow like the midday sun through an Australian bushfire haze. Then things began to happen fast. Four bombs dropped near the shore, and I felt the ship shudder stiffly and tug at the anchor chains. While I clung to the rope ladder, hunched against the steel side, the guns began to stutter, first singly, then together, the sharp bursts of fire merging into a shattering tattoo, punctuated by a booming, tearing crump of more bombs, and the deep crack of “archies” (anti-aircraft guns). Meanwhile machine-gun fire was heard from the clouds, and bullets or cartridge cases pattered into the sea behind me.

Reaching the deck I saw 100 tracer bullets looping up towards a flare, which soon afterwards was extinguished by gunfire. Down the coast a big fire spread a red cream over the clouds. All visible stars were swallowed in the rolling clouds of smoke. Lewis guns abruptly ceased fire, and the sound of the battle drifted into the distance, until only the glow of the fire and the faraway mutter of gunfire betrayed the presence of the enemy.

Just before dawn the bombers returned, flying directly over the convoy on their way back to Germany. More bombs dropped, about seven falling into the sea around us, but there were no hits. Explosions were followed by the rippling crash of cascades ol water falling back into the sea. Our Lewis gunner, aged about nineteen, let go with his second burst, and a deadly chorus from the other ships opened up again.

After some minutes the bombers disappeared, and soon the convoy moved off. My ship, the captain of which had been appointed vice-commodore of the convoy, headed the starboard column. Reaching the open sea, we dropped the pilot. The imposing line of merchantmen, with warships zigzagging ahead with depth charges in their catapults and guns pointing skywards, breasted the swell of the English Channel. Overhead a naval reconnaissance plane roared up and down the double line of ships. All day we plugged along without incident, until dusk. Then suddenly a warship opened heavy anti-aircraft fire and puffs of smoke dotted the sky around a minute dot which the captain told me was an enemy plane probably spotting for E-boats (motortorpedo boats). A sloop continued rapid fire until its hull was surrounded by the jagged edges of flame. The plane disappeared, and word was passed round that an Eboat attack could be expected at night. All thought of sleep was abandoned. All the ship’s company lay down in their clothes with lifejackets and tin hats handy. The gun crews went to their stations, grinning cheerfully, but the night passed uneventfully and silently. Only the cry from the lookout in the crow’s nest broke the stillness. ,

In the sombre light of morning the convoy steamed behind us, every ship in order, with the Red Ensign flying jauntily. Later the wind began to blow heavily, and everybody was thankful because continuance of such weather ensured comparative safety frofn air or E-boat attack. The only danger was submarines, but in these waters it is too dangerous for submarines. After many hours, in which we were constantly alert, came at last the friendly shadow of the hills. Then most of the men on board went to their bunks.