BRITISH BATTLESHIP SUNK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 244, 16 October 1939, Page 7

BRITISH BATTLESHIP SUNK

* ROYAL OAK TORPEDOED SURVIVORS AT PRESENT TOTAL UNDER FIVE HUNDRED GERMANS ALSO CLAIM DAMAGE TO H.M.S. HOOD [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copy night | Received Oct. 15, 6.30 p.m. LONDON, Oct. .14. The Admiralty announce that the battleship Royal Oak has been sunk, apparently by submarine action, in the North Sea. As far as is known the survivors number about 500 of the approximate complement of 1200. A detailed list of names of Royal Oak survivors issued by the Admiralty now shows a total of 463, including Captain W. <l. Benn, former captain of the aireraft-earrier Argus, and former Director of Navigation, i ommander R. !•'. Nicholls, and four lieutenant-commanders. All the above have been landed, though Ihe locality is not stated. The list of survivors is unlikely to contain any Australians or New Zealanders. It is quite possible that further names will be available in the morning. The British United Press Berlin correspondent states that naval circles claim that the sinking of the Royal Oak has brought the total British warship tonnage sunk to 86,000. They also announce that 11.M..5. Hood has been so severely damaged as to be out of action for several months. No Admiralty comment so far is available on this. Germany says she will henceforward employ destroyers and not submarines for the prosecution of economic warfare.” There seems every indication that the Germans have developed a new type of torpedo capable of penetrating the heaviest armour-plating of modern warships. The Germans assert that, the Royal Oak was provided with special anti-torpedo protective armour, which apparently failed. CAN GERMANY TRIM THE NAVAL MARGIN ? QUESTION BEING RAISED IN U.S.A. Received Det. 15. 7.5" p.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 14. The Associated Press%t America's Berlin correspondent says that special editions announce the sinking of the Royal Oak. The newspapers praise the prowess of the submarines and ask whether Mr. Churchill is yet ready to disclose the whereabouts of the aireraft-earrier Ark Royal. They also emphasise the bitterness of the lesson to those who believe that Germany van be risklessly starved out. The Associated Press of America's Washington correspondent says that naval experts view the sinking of the Royal Oak as having more serious implications in. the future than at present. If German submarines are able thus to trim further the British and French naval margin, the sea blockade might be threat- j ened. The naval authorities are concerned regarding the man- ( tier of the sinking. Normally battleships at sea are safeguarded by a screen of light cruisers and destroyers, in addition to their ; own armour. Whether the torpedoes were fired when the Royal ' Oak was anchored at sea is a question of importance to the ■ I nited States, in common with all navies which consider the I battleship the backbone of the fleet. There are .12 United : States battleships in the Pacific of little more modern design than the Royal Oak. although they are probably better protected. Die sinking bears out Admiral Leahy’s testimony to Congress last year that the battleship can be sunk by torpedoes, shells and erials bombs under conditions favourable to an attack.

U-BOATS SUNK THREE IN ONE DAY FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH I British Official Wireless J RUGBY, Oct. 1?. The Admiralty announce that Friday, the 13th, proved to be an unlucky day for U-boats, two having been destroyed. Hunting craft were able io rescue some of the survivors. It was announced that the British steamer Heronspool <5202 tons) had been attacked by a U-boat. The crew are reported to be all §afe in an American ship. The Herunspool is the second -hip to be sunk this week. THIRD U-BOAT DESTROYED JDaventry Broadcast.) LONDON. Oct. 14. Three German submarines nave been sunk. Early this evening the Admiralty announced that two had been sent to the bottom in the course of the day, and shortly afterwards information was received of the destruction of the third U-boat. TWO OF OCEAN-GOING CLASS Received Oct. 15. 6.30 p.m. LONDON. Oct. 14. It is learned that two of the three U-boats sunk yesterday were of the large ocean-going class. OSTENSIBLY GERMAN SUBMARINES IN CARIBBEAN WASHINGTON, Oct. 13. The Chairman of the MilitaryAffairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Mr. J. B. Snyder, following an inspection of the coastal fortifications, announced that he had information that six submarines were operating in the Caribbean Sea, ostensibly German craft.

FRENCH TANKER FOUND IN FLAMES THE CREW MISSING NEW YORK. Ort. 13. : The steamer President Harding ad- , vised radio that it rescued the crew of 36 from the Heronspool off the , Irish coast, while proceeding to the aid ■of the French tanker Emile Miguel <14.115 tonsi, whose SOS the President Harding intercepted. It found the tanker in flames and the crew missing. RAID ON TYNE INAZIS WHO WERE SHOT DOWN Received Oct. 14, 5.5 COPENHAGEN, Oct. 13. An .-(.tempt to raid the Tyne area j was disclosed by the SJerman airmen j who made a broadca.se at Kiel. They i admitted that they were part of a | ‘quadion of 18 planes which made an ■ attempt to bomb the Tyne, and said • three British aircraft engaged their plane and shot, them down near the . Tyneside and then advised a Danish i ship of their predicament. 1 SEAPLANE’S CREW REPORT ! Received Oct. 15. 6.30 p.m COPENHAGEN, Oct. 14. i Further facts of the German raid. | assumed to be on the Tyne area, were 1 obtained from the crew of the German | seaplane. They admitted being engaged just outside British territorial waters. British fighters disabled first one engine and then another. The crew escaped in a rubber dinghy and was then picked un hv a ship’s boat. They had not not succeeded in sinking the aircraft with revolvers and it was towed to Germany. NORTH SEA RAIDS DESTROYERS REPLACE U-BOATS Received Oct. 14, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 13. German naval officers broadcasting from Kiel stated that destroyers were now carrying out raids in the North > . Sea in place of submarines, and that i Iso far three raiding expeditions had i been made against contraband com- ( ! merce.