BELIEVED SUNK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 192, 16 August 1940, Page 5

BELIEVED SUNK

NAZI TRAWLER AND E-BOAT ACTION BY DESTROYERS. [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Aug. 14. An Admiralty communique states that the destroyers Malcolm and Verity made contact with enemy light forces comprising six armed trawlers and three E-boats. The British destroyers at once engaged the enemy ships, which retired behind smokescreens as soon as they were illuminated by the destroyers’ searchlights and were able to escape. Three of the enemy vessels were seen to be hit and it is thought one armed trawler and one E-boat were sunk. No damage or casualties were suffered by either of the British destroyers. The Admiralty announces that the minesweeping trawler Elizabeth Angela suffered damage as the result of an enemy air attack, and later sank. The crew suffered some casualties, one fatal. The German High Command reports the sinking of 41,611 tons of shipping, including an 11,000-ton British auxiliary cruiser. Portions of the German submarine flotilla encountered in the North Sea several British destroyers which withdrew after brief fighting. A German communique states: “We were successful in a fight between several German mineships and a number of enemy motor-boats in the North Sea. It can be assumed that at least one British motor-boat failed to reach port, and our boats were undamaged and continued on their journey according to plan.”