SINKING OF THE BISMARCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 124, 29 May 1941, Page 5

SINKING OF THE BISMARCK

GERMAN ACCOUNT London, May 27. An account of the sinking of the Bismarck is given by the official German news agency "from Berlin: “In her first battle against superior British forces, the Bismarck sank the Hood and damaged the King George. The Bismarck had her speed reduced by a hit forward. A torpedo hit in an air attack on the night of Saturday again reduced her speed. About 9 p.m. on Monday. 400 miles westward of Brest, the Bismarck was hit by two aerial torpedoes, breaking a screw and the rudder. Admiral Luetjens at 10.24 p.m. reported to the High Command: ‘The ship is incapable of manoeuvres. We will fight to the last shell. Long live the Fuhrer.” “Against enemy forces which were gradually being reinforced, the Bismarck went on lighting until, finally on the morning of Tuesday she went down. An undetermined number ol the crew were lost.’’—U.P.A HOOD’S THIN ARMOUR London, May 27. It is revealed that H.M.S. Hood was struck by a shell fired at. up to 23,000 yards range. She blew up, with only very few survivors. As’ 4 :cd in view of lhe losses of battle cruisers at Jutland was the Hood specially equipped with safeguards for the magazines, Mr. Churchill replied that the Hood was refitted about ten years ago. It was impossible in wartime to carry out any such major reconstruction to the Hood, which was thinly armoured, and none was undertaken before the war.—U.P.A.