WAR AT SEA

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

WAR AT SEA

Going Well For

Britain

Battle Of Atlantic Will Be Won

British Official Wireless

RUGBY, September 9. Addressing the House of Commons to-day, the Prime Minister (Mr Churchill ( said that the war at sea was going well for Britain, and that there was no doubt that the battle of the Atlantic would be won.

Mr Churchill said that, in an effort to starve the British Isles by U-boat and air attack, the enemv continually changed his tactics. The actual figures of shipping losses for July and August would not be given, as It was inadvisable to give the enemy too precise or early information as to the success or failure of his manoeuvres. “The public, and indeed the whole world, however, has derived the impression that things have gone much better in these two months. I cannot deny that this is so,” the Prime Minister added, amidst cheers.

British Losses Decrease “The Improvement in the sea war has manifested itself ta a falling-off of sinkings and a consequent increase in the arrival of valuable cargoes, and the estimate made at the beginning of the year looks as though it will ta exceeded.

"A further manifestation of the improvement is the great rise ta the destruction of enemy shipping during the last three months which has been achieved by the brilliant new tactics of Coastal Command aircraft and the exploits of our submarines. By these two weapons the destruction of enemy shipping is enormous. “I may say that the sinkings of British and Allied shipping by enemy action in July and August, added together, do not amount to much more than a third of the German and Italian tonnage which we have sunk by air-

“Our achievement is even more remarkable when it is remembered that the target represented to the enemy is ten and possibly twenty times greater than that offered to the British forces. His ships make a short voyage, dart across narrow strips of water, or slink along the coast from one defended port to another under air protection while we carry on the gigantic world-wide trade of Britain, which, as has often been stated, and cannot be stated too often, involves no fewer than 2000 ships and never fewer than 400 in the danger zones.” Tribute to Submarine Service

Mr Churchill paid a high tribute to the submarine service, which, he said, was the most dangerous of all the services. “Perhaps this is the reason why the First Lord tells me that entry into it is greatly sought by officers and men,” he declared. During 1941 British submarines sunk or seriously damaged 17 enemy warships, some of which were U-boats, and 105 supply ships, varying from large 20.000-ton liners to caiques laden with troops. Among other peri’s which had been overcome was that of mines. “The British successes have been the reward of patience and exertions,” said Mr Churchill, “but let us hear no more fine talk about the Battle of the Atlantic being won.” Mr Churchill went on to speak of his visit to Iceland, where he reviewed strong British and United States forces "which, while no doubt for the performance of entire’ ’ different and separate duties, happen to be engaged in defending this important island—the stepping-stone across the Atlantic —from Nazi intrusion and attack.” Mr Churchill said that United States and British naval and air forces were stationed on the island, and would play an ever-increasing part in maintaining supplies.