GERMAN CONVOY ATTACKED

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22065, 11 September 1941, Page 5

GERMAN CONVOY ATTACKED

CRUISER SUNK Surprise Action In Arctic British Official wireless RUGBY, September 9. From Murmansk to the Mediterranean comes further evidence Of the success of Britain’s offensive against the Axis. An Admiralty communique states that light forces under the command of Rear-Admiral P. L. Vian have been operating against German convoys and with the troops on the Murmansk front. These operations were successful. A German destroyer, an armed trawler and another vessel was sunk. The German light cruiser Bremse Which was damaged by naval aircraft in a raid on Kirkenes in July, is believed to have been sunk. Other Ships were probably damaged. We sustained no casualties.

An enemy convoy of two supply ships, with a strong escort, was intercepted and attacked last night by our patrols in the English Channel. In the first attack, just before midnight, one supply ship of about 3500 tons was hit by torpedo and obviously badly damaged, and was probably sunk. Whjle the enemy convoy was being shadowed after the first attack an engagement occurred between our ships and the enemy convoy escort. In this engagement one E-boat was probably sunk and an armed trawler was set on fire.

.Shortly afterwards a second attack was made on the enemy convoy. In this attack the remaining supply ship of about 4000 tons was torpedoed. This caused a very big explosion and much wreckage was seen to be thrown in the air. The staking of this ship was confirmed by air reconnaissance this morning, when the masts of a new wreck and mUch wreckage was seen. The only casualty suffered by Our ship during the operations were four wounded.

One of the vessels which torpedoed and sank a supply ship was a motor torpedo-boat manned by men of the Norwegian Navy. A large Italian schooner has been torpedoed and sunk by one of our submarines in the central Mediterranean. Off the harbour of Benghazi another of our submarines engaged two selfpropelled supply lighters by gunfire. Both were hit and damaged and one may have been sunk. Rear Admiral Vian, Who has seen much service In northern Waters, commanded the destroyer Cossack when she rescued the British seamen from the German prison ship Altmark. He also took part in the action against the Bismarck. He was promoted rear admiral last July. The German cruiser had a speed of 27 knots and mounted twelve 5-lnch guns and six anti-aircraft guns. Her loss Is admitted by he Germans, Who say that she was sunk in a surprise attack by British naval units off the northern coast of Norway while escorting a convoy carrying supplies to the German forces fighting In the far north. Harbour Attacked

A Royal Air Force Middle East communique says: “Heavy bombers of the R.A.F. successfully bombed shinning and the harbour of Palermo (Sicily) on Monday night. Many direct hits were obtained on sheds, docks, main jetties and a dry dock, causing explosions and a large fire that was visible 20 miles away. One direct hit on the north jettv caused debris to be thrown high in the air. Near the fire station further fires occured. "On the return journey our aircraft machine-gunned the Coastguard station and railway sheds at Licata. “Reconnaissance revealed that a merchantman, torpedoed ih Syracuse harbour by the Fleet Air Arm on the night of August 10-11, now has her stem under water.

“The R.A.F. to-day raided Dema and Canuzzo, and the S.A.A.F. bombed Bardia.

“All our aircraft returned safely.”