WESTERN FRONT

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 236, 20 September 1939, Page 3

WESTERN FRONT

bout 12 b,Dots in an easterly direction. I took cover in a cloud in order to approach the submarine from astern. “As, E came out of the cloud flying at 150 Oft., J tried with my binoculars to identify- the submarine. “Flying closer, 1 saw those 'characteristics which made me sure that she was German. To make absolutely certain’’ I fired some- rounds of ammunition near her to give her a chance to identify herself. She did not do so', so I proceeded to dive, at the same time firing my front gun at someone wearing a .white hat who was standing on the conning tower. He disappeared and the submarine started to dive. “]fy the time I dropped my first salvo of bombs, the nearest of .which hit" the water lb to 2(1 yds. directly ahead of the submarine, she was half under water. The explosion of the bombs blew her back to the surface. Tliat.gavc me time to turn round!, and I then carried out an attack from the port beam. The nearest bomb of my second salvo landed 6ft. to the side of the conning tower. It was:'a.-direct bit oil the submarine's port side. “There was a "colossal explosion, and her whole stern lilted out of the water. She dived into the sea at an angle of 30 degrees. “For 20 minutes afterwards 1 remained over the spot watching the large whirlpools caused by escaping air coming to the surface of the water. By that time 1 •assumed that the submarine would! be out of action on the bottom of the sea, and returned to my base.” LOSS OF AIRCRAFT-CARRIER NOT FULL COMIRLFiM ENT LANDING OF SURVIVORS LONDON. Sept, 18.' The Ministry of information announces that the aircralt-earrior, H. M.S. Courageous, was sunk by an enemy submarine. The full, complement of the Courageous was about 1200 officers and men, but slie bad a reduced complement of aircraft, ’and therefore, presumably. a somewhat smaller crew. The survivors were" landing to-day, indicating that the Courageous was sunk close to England. The information that the Courageous had been sunk by a submarine was received! at 1.5 a.m. The Admiralty announced that the Courageous was carrying a reduced complement of. planes and was. attached to the Reserve Fleet in August, and added that the carrier was “performing very good service in protecting; ships of the merchant seivice. The Minister of Information states that destroyers and merchantmen picked up the survivors, and are now returning to the harbour. The announcement a dik'd that it is believed that the submarine was sunk by destroyers.

LITTLE TO REPORT

BOTH BIDES REINFORCE

LONDON, Sept. 18

Paris messages state that the French are strengthening their troops on the ."Western Front as an answer to heavy German reinforcements. Authoritative military sources in Paris state that British artillery lias been moved up in support of the French forces in preparation for the next phase of the Western Front operations. The Germans, are continuing to withdraw from the Saar, Vosges, Trier aild Aachen areas.

A French communique issued at 8 o’clock last night stated there was nothing important then to announce. Aerial activity had been reduced owing to unfavourable weather. A Luxemburg report states -that heavy artillery was beard oyer the Moselle sector.’ German shells fell in the German village of "Perl, which is in French hands. The French appeared to be concentrating their fire on the village of Borg to bring pressure presumably against Saarburg, Id miles from the West Wall.

('OLLAPSE OF POLISH FRONT

GERAI ‘AN-RITSSIAN AGR>K(EMBN"I

DETAILS P LULLS El ED

LONDON, Sept. IS.

A Berlin message states that with the German High Command claiming the complete collapse of the Polish front and the German and Soviet troops about -30 miles apart, the German press to-day i» publishing an inspired statement disclosing a sixpoint German-Russian agreement for the partition of Poland. The Governments were agreed!:— il) That tin*" Polish State, from the moment of its creation after the Great War. lacked the natural conditions of statehood.

<d) That, the Polish State collapsed through its own incompetence. (A) That Germany and Russia must reorganise the various nationalities in Poland by “creating corporate bodies of Europe.”

(4-j Tin* German-Russian task is to establish a complete new settlement of their spheres of influence assuring peace and order. (.3) The British and .French claims that they should assist Poland have been proved groundless and their al--1 ianc / s with Poland no longer exist. (6) Britain and Franco are now confronted with the question : A\ hat- is their objective in fighting Germany y Well-informed sources in Berlin believe that Germany- will shortly propose peace to. Britain and France on the basis of a fait accompli in Poland. LONDON. Sept. 18.

A Berlin communique issued to-day stated that the Polish campaign was approaching the end. Lublin was conquered and Lwow encircled. The German High Commandl said that Warsaw had failed to send negotiators to arrange for evacuation before the city was stormed. The bombardment- of Warsaw was not begun as it was reported that civil war had broken out in the capital, one of the groups wanting to surrender the city and the other wanting to carry on. The ’Germans wen* awaiting the outcome. Berlin claimed that the German Army had occupied, the line from Lwow to Brest-Litovsk. Thus the greater part of Poland was occupied. The communique stated: “Our air 'force has practically fulfilled its mission andi is now prepared for other tasks.”

BOMBED F'llOM THE AIR SINKING OF SUBMARINE ATTACK BY R.A.F. PILOT RUGBY, Sept, 18. The first graphic* eye-witness account of the bombing and sinking ol a, German submarine comes irom a young South African officer serving with the R.A.F. The* destruction of the submarine was closely observed by the pilot from the attack to the last airbubble whic h rose to the surface. It was the first .submarine with \Vliich the -pilot had been in action. “[ was sent out on submarine patrol,” la* said. “On my return trip I sighted tin* submarine on the surface two miles away. It was travelling a-