ALLIED CONVOY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 226, 25 September 1942, Page 5

ALLIED CONVOY

ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION IN NORTH RUSSIA EXAGGERATED NAZI CLAIMS OF SINKINGS Rugby Sept. 23. The Admiralty states that another important convoy, carrying large quantities of war material, has arrived at north Russian ports. Losses were suffered among shins in the convoy, but despite heavy attacks by enemy aircraft and U-boats, the great majority of the ships arrived at their destinations. The convoy consisted of British, American and Russian merchantmen. It is not intended to assist the enemy by informing him of the extent of his lack of success against this convoy, but it is possible to state that his claims on this occasion have been even more exagggerated than usual. No escort shin in this convoy was lost. After claiming for days past that an Allied convoy to northern Russia had been practically annihilated. Berlin radio now admits that it. has reached its destination. The original Axis claim to have sunk between 30 and 40 ships has dwindled to nine ships sunk. Berlin radio said that the convoy was protected bv a giant naval squadron as well as by fighters. It refers to the very arduous and perilous work of the Luftwaffe planes, whose bases were bombed by Russian aircraft to help cover the convoy.—B.O.W. An official German statement claimed that German bombers and Üboats, in an attack beginning on September 13. sank 38 merchantmen in a British Arctic convoy going to Russia. The Luftwaffe also sank one destroyer and two escort vessels. The German High Command said the convoy was the largest ever to attempt to force a passage to Russia. The convoy sailed close to the pack ice south of Spitzbergen and escorts formed several cordons around the merchantmen. The battle raged uninterruptedly for six days.