GERMAN BOAST REFUTED

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 247, 16 October 1939, Page 3

GERMAN BOAST REFUTED

AIR DOMINATION OF NORTH SEA BOLSTERING FAILING MORALE LITRE FOR NAVAL SALLIES RUGBY, Oct, 13. British naval advices give the lie to German claims that Germany dominates by air the North'Sen, in which the convoys are running like clockwork and' the fishing fleets are operating normally. It is believed that’the claims are a deliberate- attempt to firstly stay up the German morale, secondly to impress neutrals with the might of the • German air arm, and thirdly, to lure the Royal Navy to make dangerous sallies'.* it is now learned that the receiit North Sea action lasted for eight hours. Tho •German bombers came .'in relays, but they failed to score a single hit. Their casualties are net known but it is believed that at least six were brought down. Despite the persistent qlaims of the Germans that they have hit.an aircraft carrier it can he definitely stated that no warship has been touched by air attacks since the outbreak of the war. It can also be . stated that there is no confirmation of the reports that an enemy submarine was sighted in the Pacific. It is learned that all German merchantmen were orefered before the war to scuttle their ships if any danger of capture arose. A high authority has revealed that three Polish destroyers, namely the Blyskawica, Groin and Bury,a have been co-operating with the Royal Navy since the outbreak of tho war,- in the IKltiglish Channel. The patrols are doing extraordinarily good work and the fighting spirit of the personel is of the highest. German naval officers, broadcasting from Kiel, stated that German destroyers were now carrying out raids in the North Sea in place of submarines. So far three raiding expeditions had heeii made against contraband commerce.