INFLATED GERMAN CLAIMS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 43, 14 November 1940, Page 9

INFLATED GERMAN CLAIMS

Admiralty ’Exposes One i British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 12. German news reports in the past few days have specialized in stories purporting to describe successful air attacks on convoys, with sweeping claims of losses ami damage inflicted and usually inflated estimates of the tonnage involved. The wisdom of treating such descriptions with sceptical reserve is well shown by today's Admiralty statement. On Monday night a special announcement was broadcast by Germany to the effect, that five ships totalling 37,000 tons had been sunk in an attack on a British convoy. This claim was improved upon in today’s German High Command communique, which claimed that seven merchantmen of about 44,000 tons were sunk in this attack. The Admiralty declares that in point of fact no ships were sunk. Two ships received some damage, but both are safe.

The Admiralty also announced the destruction by anti-aircraft fire from His (Majesty’s ships of three enemy aircraft in addition to those already reported destroyed. The Vivien and Londonderry each shot down one Junkers and the Vivien’s fire so severely damaged another that it is not likely to have regained its base. His Majesty’s tug St. Mellons shot down one Messerschmitt and damaged another enemy aircraft.