GERMAN ADMISSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 5

GERMAN ADMISSION

: 35 SUBMARINES LOST ATTEMPTED PROPAGANDA BEATS ITSELF [ British Oflicial Wireless 1 RUGBY, Jan. 17. The three British submarines, Un- • dine, Seahorse and Starfish, which, as the Admiralty announced yesterday, must now be regarded as having been lost, are the first submarine losses by enemy action in 18 weeks of warfare, and it is noted that the Germans are [ only aware of their success against two of them- the Starfish and Undine. The losses contrast remarkably with Germart submarine losses, conservatively estimated at about 12 limes this number. The relative British immunity from loss is not through any policy of holding back British submarines. The oliicial announcement refers to the particularly hazardous service on which these vessels had been engaged. The nature of these hazards may be gauged from the graphic account of the experiences of an unnamed British submarine which struggled home after being temporarily disabled by heavy enemy at tack in German waters. More recently the Ursula, sistership of the Undine, and Salmon, sis-ter-ship of the Starfish, on similar patrols, achieved successes in attacks [ on German warships which must be set against these losses. All the three lost craft were of a [small type suited for operations in I narrow and shallow waters. | The Undine was a vessel of 540 tons I and a sister-ship of the Ursula, which ; sank a German light cruiser last ' month. The Undine carried a crew of i 27. The Seahorse and Starfish were ' both submarines of 640 tons and each ! carried a crew of 40. | The Admiralty has issued lists of 14 : officers and 94 ratings from the miss- [ ing submarines Seahorse, Undine I and Starfish. German Losses • Meanwhile the extent of German | submarine losses has been confirmed from an unexpected source a Geri man propaganda broadcast from Frankfurt. A commentator, referring Ito these losses, said: “We need not j pay attention to Winston Churchill's j | tall stories. We have plenty of sub- i I marines still, to say nothing of those I being turned out in the dockyards. I The wish of the English is father 1o ! lhe though!. T’hey say they have [sunk 70. If they said 35 it would be i a bit nearer the truth." In fact, the Allies have never i claimed to have sunk 70. The only ( aggregate claims made were last Saturday by the French Minister of [.Marine, M. Cesar Campinchi, who. j far from throwing doubt on Allied [ statements the broadcast has served! ■to confirm. He said: “At a moderate- • estimate fully half the U-boats with | [ which Germany began the war have j . been destroyed by the British and • i French Navies." I The submarine threat has been I i brought under control and it is in ' | the light of that predominant fact 1 that the present losses are offset. Fig-' [ urcs now a\ailable of the success of. | the convoy system, namely, ship-G [ safely escorted 6363 and number lost i I 12. are further confirmation. If the I j mass of people in Britain and in ' neutral countries could fully envisaged I the courage, skill, unceasing vigilance I land hardship endured to make this! acliie; ament possible there would be i less foolish talk of inaction.