BRITISH ATTACK AT NARVIK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 85, 12 April 1940, Page 5

BRITISH ATTACK AT NARVIK

STRONG OPPOSITION DESTROYERS AND SHORE I BATTERIES LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES I.By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright] LONDON, April 11. The Admiralty has issued a communique stating that British destroyers attacked enemy forces at .Narvik at dawn and met strong opposition. H.M.S. Hunter (1340 | tons) was sunk and H.M.S. Hardy ' (145(1 tons) ran ashore. The rest of the attacking force withdrew. j The enemy losses at Narvik are not >et known for certain, but an unconfirmed report from Stockholm says a German cruiser was sunk. Further and heartening news of the British naval attack on Narvik was given by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, to the House of Commons. “Five British destroyers steamed up the fiord and engaged six German destroyers of the latest and largest types, who were also supported by shore batteries and guns newly mounted ashore. The Hunter was sunk and the Hardy so severely injured that she had to run ashore and became a wreck. H.M.S. Hotspur also suffered serious damage and the destroyer H.M.S. Hostile slight damage. The remaining vessel, H.M.S. Havoc, was untouched. “After a most determined action against superior forces and with larger and more modern ships and in the face of gunlire from the shore the Hotspur withdrew, covered by the other two destroyers. The enemy appeared to be in no condition to attempt pursuit. “One 1600-ton German destroyer was torpedoed and believed sunk and three were left heavily hit and burning. Merchantmen Sunk “It is perhaps not less important that six merchant ships suspected of containing unloaded stores of the German expedition were sunk on the coast by British destroyers. On the way out they met the German ship Ravensfeldt, which was found to be carrying reserve ammunition for the landed German force. This vessel [ was blown up.” The French Prime Minister, M. [ Paul Reynaud, >n the French Senate, 1 said that half the German fleet was exposed by units of the Allied fleets and German ships were bottled up in Narvik. He emphasised that the cutting off of German supplies of iron ore was a capital advantage to the Allies. Not a ton would leave Narvik for Germany for the duration of the war. The Allied blockade was being applied tomorrow to regions which submitted to German control. The Times Stockholm correspondent says German soldiers told tne people of Narvik they had been on their way for two to three days. The German force in Narvik is estimated at more than 2000.