BATTLE OF THE SEAS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 63, Issue 4462, 11 August 1941, Page 8

BATTLE OF THE SEAS

BRITAIN’S LIFE-LINE. ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. (Official Service.) On April 28, 1941, the British Prime Minister said: “But how about our life-line across the Atlantic? What is to happen if so many of our merchant ships are sunk that we carinot bring in the food we need to nourish our brave people? What if the supply of war materials and war weapons which Canada and the United States are seeking to send us in such enormous quantities should in large part be sunk on the way? What is to happen then? Can you wonder it is the Battle of the Atlantic which holds first place in the thoughts of those upon whom rests the responsibility of securing victory.” On July 27, 1941, Mr Harry Hopkins, special envoy of the President of the United States, was able to say: “Once upon a time the mighty North Atlantic ocean separated us. Now it joins us. To-nfeht British and American warships are patrolling on parallel lanes with only one object in view —to guard the world’s life-line. We in America may be 3000 miles away, but to-day the Atlantic Ocean is merely a channel.” HUNTING THE SUBMARINES. What has happened to bring about this change? Firstly our success in hunting down enemy submarines has increased. No exact figure can be given of the losses suffered by the Germans at our hands because the figure is one for which the German High Command would give thousands of pounds, but it is certain that in recent days it has been satisfactory. On July 16, the First Lord of the Admiralty stated that he had received reports “which would encourage any First Lord”, and he went on to say “there is another thing I can tell you. There is a room in the Admiralty containing a number of highly sceptical officers, who refuse to accept any doubtful claim to the destruction of U-boats. When, therefore, I am informed that U-boats have been accepted as destroyed, I know there is no shadow of doubt she is in Davy Jones’s locker. I am certain there are many more which do not get back to Germany.” Secondly, the occupation of Iceland by the U.S.A.: This is the most important step so far taken in the American plan for helping the British Empire forces to patrol the Atlantic. Ten days after the despatch of the American garrison, President Roosevelt told his Press Conference that the U.S. Navy had orders to protect the sea lanes between the United States and Iceland against attack or threat of attack, and

declared, “It is A.B.C. stuff to keep the sea lanes to Iceland open”. THE SURFACE RAIDERS. Thirdly, the success of our sea and air offensive against surface raiders. On March 31, 1941, the Air Ministry first announced that we had bombed the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in harbour at Brest. Between that date and the time of going to press, the R.A.F. has repeated the dose twentyfive times, while these ships have been lying crippled and vulnerable in the docks. On June 10 after the sinking of the Bismarck by the Royal Navy, they were joined by the Prinz Eugen. On*July 23, the Scharnhorst managed to limp to La Pallice, hoping to escape further punishment. Three times during the subsequent twenty-four hours she and her sister ships were heavily bombed. Fourthly, the courage and endurance of the merchant seamen of the Empire, who, regardless of every danger, take their ships to and fro across the Atlantic with a single purpose in mind—to get their cargoes through. “ENEMY AT HER BACK.” More ships from the United Kingdom and Dominion shipyards, increased escorts and improved armaments for merchant vessels are helping these men to fulfil their purpose The latest Admiralty figures are a measure of their success. These show that the enemy, in spite of enjoying the advantage of longer daylight hours, sank twenty-five fewer ships in June than in May—a total reduction of 168,551 gross tons. Certainly we can concentrate all our energies in one direction. Germany has jjUst embarked on a questionable adventure costing hundreds of thousands of lives and vast quantities of valuable materials in an attempt to establish supply lines and security in her rear. As a result, Germany, whichever way she faces, has an enemy at her back. The British Commonwealth is facing one enemy only, and knows it. The Mother Country has at her back an ocean which is being bridged in concert with a mighty nation who shares British ideals and the British will to victory. “People of England, people of Britain, people of the British Commonwealth of Nations, you are not fighting alone.” (Mr Harry Hopkins, broadcasting to the British on July 27, 1941.)