U-BOAT WARFARE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 231, 30 September 1943, Page 5

U-BOAT WARFARE

BEATEN BY NEW ESCORT CARRIER Recd. 11 p.m. Washington, Sept. 29. “The German Navy is nearing demoralisation similar to 1917 and ha« already been forced to draft U-boal crews, which previously were only volunteers,” said Rear-Admiral Low, Chief of Naval Operations against Üboats, in a broadcast. He asserted that the Germans hud failed once and for all to break the Allied life-line across the Atlantic, and added that in the period from May to August more than 400 Allied ships had crossed the Atlantic with a loss of less than one in 200. Moreover, he said, the U-boat fleet w as unable to stand the present rate of sinkings, which were hastening the same kind of demoralisation that, broke Üboa't warfare in the last war. Rear-Admiral Low said the most effective Allied weapon is the escort carrier, of which 36 were built last month alone. Before the end of the year 260 will be completed.

WOLF-PACK ATTACKED CANADIAN LIBERATORS’ SUCCESS Recd. 9 p.m. Ottawa, Sept. 28. Lojig-range Liberators operating from a base on the Canadian east coast carried out six separate attacks against a U-boat wolf-pack in a recent tw’O-day running battle in midAtlantic. 'The Royal Canadian Air Force announced that the attacks were made while the Liberators were guarding a convoy. So fast did the encounters occur that when a bomber, having used all its depth charges, radioed another the latter replied: “Have own sub. on our hands.” All of the six submarines attacked remained on the surface, sending up a fierce curtain of flak. One plane was severely damaged. The Royal Canadian Air Force made no specific claim of destruction or damage to the U-boats, but at least one submarine was caught surprised and perfectly attacked.