DEPTH CHARGES

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21486, 30 July 1941, Page 5

DEPTH CHARGES

AMERICAN DESTROYER PROTECTION OF SHIP PICKING UP SURYIYORS LONDON, July 29 Colonel F. Knox, Secretary of the Navy for the United States, revealed today that an American destroyer has had to drop depth charges to safeguard itself. The destroyer was patrolling near Greenland when it answered an S.O.S. from a torpedoed ship and it was while he was picking up survivors that the suspected presence of a submarine was reported to the captain. He immediately turned into the direction indicated and dropped three depth charges to make certain the submarine stayed well under while he rescued the victims of the previous sinking. Colonel Knox added that it is not absolutely certain whether there was a submarine there or not. Right of Self-Preservation The Senate’s Naval Affairs Committee confirmed that the captain of a United .States destroyer, while off the coast of Greenland rescuing 60 survivors from a torpedoed steamer, thought he heard a submerged submarine. He immediately dropped three depth charges. The committee said that in doing this the captain very prudently exercised the right of self-preservation, otherwise the destroyer might have been sunk. The committee expressed the opinion that further investigation need not be, undertaken. CANADA’S GREAT PART BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. ’Copyright) (Received July 30, noon) LONDON, July 29 Discussions which may have farreaching effects on many aspects of the Battle of the Atlantic have been •completed between the Admiralty and representatives of the Canadian Navy Department. It is understood complete agreement on all points was reached. Canada plans a naval personnel of nearly 25,000 men before the end of the year, manning 250 ships of all kinds. As a result of the Canadian Navy’s valuable work the convoying of equipment and personnel across the Atlantic will be made still more effective, while the part that Canada is able to play in the Pacific will be more significant. USE BY GERMANY RUMANIAN MERCHANT FLEET (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, July 29 The Istanbul correspondent of the Daily Mail says .that Germany has mobilised the Rumanian merchant fleet to circumvent the British blockade from the mouth of the Dardanelles to the Corinth Canal and thence to Italy. The recent sinkings of Italian ships along this route have been so heavy that it has been decided to use Rumanian merchantmen, which have been lying in Istanbul harbour since June 20. Two 6000-ton vessels are now loading with cargoes for Italy in spite of the lack of enthusiasm displayed by the Rumanian crews. This action, of course, sets the British Navy the problem of how to deal with Bulgarian and Rumanian ships which are carrying essential war materials for the Axis Powers while flying neutral flags. According to an American Associated Press correspondent in Berne, M. Stalin is acting on the British suggestion that he send a personal message to President Inonu, assuring Turkey that the Soviet Union has no intention of seizing the Dardanelles. BUILDING OF SHIPS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, July 29 The Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, today laid the keel of the first 9000toq freighter to be built under the Australian merchant shipbuilding programme. Ha said the objective was 60 ships in five years, the work employing more than 15,000 men. The naval construction programme, said Mr Menzies, would continue as at present. This covered 50 ships, which were being launched at the rate of four or five a month. Mr Menzies paid tribute to the zest and enterprise with which the newly-appointed Shipbuilding Board is going about its task, and praised the workmen in the various shipyards.