GERMAN MENDACITY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 45, 16 November 1940, Page 11

GERMAN MENDACITY

Example Of Convoy Attack (Britisli Olliei.'il Wireless.) (Received November L>. I.<> P-iu.) RUGBY, November .14. .News tlml 30 ships out of the convoy of 3S vessels escorted by I tie .Tenis B-iv are safe in port throws an interesting light ou the technique of the German High Command in composing eomnuinlques. On November S tlie German uidio made a special announcement at Il.lu a.m. stating: “German surface warstiips operating in the Atlantic have completely annihilated a British convoy operating on the western British supply Hue.” Two hours later the High Comrimnd added that British merehant tonmige was Ums reduced by Sb,ooo toils in the spins' ot a ten houis. This tliiure. which represents neither (he total toiumgo of (tie convoy nor the loiimm.o of slilps not unity sunk by tlie (termini vessel. Is ivpic.'il of Hie estlumtes dlsseminiited by the Germans iil'tor ntliieks on shipping. A further null,> tiu'ss.'uo the same day indulged in even mor.- extravagant assumptions based Oil the fuel Hint r.n furl tier news followed the SUS messages from Die Rnugltlki (10.(190 Ions) mid the Cornish City t Hourly 5000 tons). I lie (Jui'iuuii viulio Ibul (lie iissuiiip* lion that the whole British convoy had been ilestroved "is now confirmed bv the Gernuin High Command, loading to tin' assumption that the German action was very swift. United Stales radio stations did not even receive SOS messages from tlie other vessels sunk. In fact, the Rniigitiki ami H»e Cornish City are among the ships already safe in port. The assumption that they had been sunk mid. with them, all the sliips which sent oiil no messages, indicates tlie unsubstantial ctmraeter ot live evidence upon which the (lermmiHigh ('oiiiiumid is prepared In base reperl >.