SUNK IN NORTH SEA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1939, Page 5

SUNK IN NORTH SEA

BATTLESHIP ROYAL OAK WITH HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE. APPARENTLY BY SUBMARINE ACTION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. October 15. The Admiralty announced ilial the battleship Royal Oak was sunk, apparently by submarine action, in the North Sea. A detailed list of names of survivors, issued by the Admiralty, shows the lota! to be 463, of an approximate complement of 1200. The survivors include Captain W. G. Benn, former captain of the aircraft carrier Argus and former director of navigation. Commander R. F. Nicholls and four lieutenant commanders. All the above have been landed, though the locality is not stated. The list of survivors is unlikely to contain the names of any Australians or New Zealanders. It is quite possible that further names will be available in the morning. The British United Press Berlin correspondent states that naval circles claim that the sinking of the Royal Oak has brought the total British warship tonnage sunk to 86,000. They also announce that the Hood is so severely damaged as to be out of action for several months. No Admiralty comment so far is available on this.

Germany says that henceforth she will employ destroyers, not submarines, for the prosecution of “economical warfare.” There seems every indication that the Germans have developed a new type of torpedo, capable of penetrating the heaviest armour plating on a modern warship. Germans assert that the Royal Oak was provided with special anti-torpedo protective armour, which apparently failed. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great' Britain says that special editions announce the sinking of the Royal Oak. Newspapers praise the prowess of submarines and ask whether Mr Churchill is yet ready to disclose the whereabouts of the Ark Royal. ’They also emphasise the bitterness of| the lesson to those who believe that Germany can be starved out without risk.

The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that naval experts viewed the sinking of the Royal Oak as having more serious implications in the future than at present. If German submarines are able thus to trim further the British and French naval margin at sea, the blockade might be threatened. Naval authorities are concerned at the manner of the sinking. Normally battleships at sea are safeguarded by a screen of light cruisers and destroyers, in addition to their own armour. Whether torpedoes were fired when the Royal Oak was anchored at sea is a question of importance to the United States and to all navies which consider the battleship the backbone of the fleet.

There are 12 United States battleships in the Pacific, little more modern in design than the Royal Oak, though probably better protected. The sinking bore out Admiral Leahy’s testimony to Congress last year that a battleship can be sunk by torpedoes, shells or aerial bombs under conditions favourable to attack. AMENDED LIST SURVIVORS TOTAL 414. POSSIBILITY OF ADDITIONS REMOTE. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, October 15. A further Admiralty list of survivors from the Royal Oak makes the total 414, not 463 as cabled earlier. The Admiralty regrets that the possibility of additional survivors is remote. GERMAN REPORT SHIP SUNK BY SUBMARINE. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) BERLIN, October 15. A German high command communique announces that a German submarine sank the British battleship Royal Oak.