ENEMY TESTIMONY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 16, 14 October 1943, Page 6

ENEMY TESTIMONY

Immense Importance Of Azores Group STRATEGIC GAP FILLED (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON, October 13. "Speaking about two years ago, when the status of the Azores was under discussion, the German naval spokesman, Admiral Lutzow stated: ‘The importance of the Azores in naval and air fighting cannot be overestimated,’ ” said A. J. McWhinnie, the naval correspondent of the “Daily Herald,” when commenting ou Mr. Churchill’s announcement. , . “Tonight, U-boat commanders will be thinking of those islands. as a mid-ocean aircraft-carrier from which aircraft can range over hitherto unpatrolled areas, striking viciously at any enemy underwater or surface vessel they may sight, as one more in the ring of naval bases from which surface vessels will operate against them, and as the. home of depots and repair shops in which the aircraft and warships can be supplied and repaired,” said Mr. McWhinnie. “The biggest island is> San Miguel, about 40 miles long by 10 miles wide. It possesses a fine port, with oil pipe-lines for the refuelling of ships carried right down the jetties. Ships up to 10,000 tons can be berthed, and there is a fine anchorage outside the main harbour for a whole fleet of escort and convoy ships. There is a seaplane base with repair shops and also an airfield. “The next most important island is Faya), about 11 miles by eight, with a good harbour at Horta protected by an SOO-yard mole and a fine anchorage capable of accommodating capital ships. Elsewhere among the nine islands there are two very well-equipped airfields. Resuming Trade Route.

“The importance to us of their. acquisition is great,” declared Mr. Mell hinnie. “They will fill a gap in the air cover of many of the main trade routes of the Atlantic, since they lie at what is a. virtual crossroads of merchant shipping. Ships which hitherto have had to take the northerly route even in winter will be able to steam on the, normal and less dangerous winter route.” The bases will be of urgent and immense strategical and tactical importance not onlv in prosecution of the Batrle of the Atlantic but in the protection of the vital Allied shipping routes to North and South America. Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East, in addition to tlie western entrance to the Mediterranean.

Reuter’s naval correspondent says: “Thq fact that the Azores lie 1700 miles from Halifax and about 1400 miles from Britain is of tremendous significance in the U-boat war. The long-range Liberators and Sunderlands of , the Coastal Command —there is already in the Azores a fine flying-boat base which transatlantic planes used before the outbreak of war —can take such a distance in their stride, while the tactical advantages of the Azores as refuelling depots for warships cannot be emphasized too much. “Till-our small aircraft-carriers went into action the .mid-Atlantic gap in the Allied air coverage was the most dangerous area in the whole ocean. German reconnaissance planes based bn western France could range at will, spotting for U-boat packs, which attacked confident that there would be no interference from the air. Even when ‘Woolworth’ carriers joined the convoys the pilots were unable to provide the thorough cover available from shore-based planes. “Now 7 , when a new- surge in the intensity of the U-boat warfare has begun, heavy four-engined planes equipped with quantities of depth-charges and powerful cannon that can split the skin of most underwater craft will be able to give strong protection to war supplies pouring into Britain from the arsenal of democracy.” Used in Last War.

The Azores consist of nine islands in the North Atlantic. They are in three groups and stretch over about 400 square miles of sea. The largest of them is about SOO miles west of Lisbon, 2300 miles east of New York, and 900 miles from the coast of Africa. The Azores ate thus a zone of cross-roads at most of the important Atlantic trade routes. Their situation is almost the ideal place for Allied naval and air forces to keep a watchful eye on shipping. They have two good harbours. The strategic value of the Azores was fully appreciated in the jiist war. It was with the consent of the Portuguese Government that United States naval forceo landed on the islands almost as scan as America came into the war.