HOSTILITIES AT SEA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1940, Page 5

HOSTILITIES AT SEA

SUCCESS OF THE CONVOY SYSTEM VERY LOW FIGURE OF LOSS. ONLY THREE BRITISH WARSHIPS HIT BY BOMBS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. . (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, Janaury 9. It is officially stated that enemy bombs have hit British warships only three times throughout the war. Results of enemy action for the week ended December 31 were the loss of two British ships totalling 5758 tons, and three neutral ships totalling 5385 tons. The total number of ships convoyed during the war is 5911 and the total losses, as the result of enemy action during the convoying, is 12. ATTACKS ON SHIPS CASUALTIES ON LIGHTHOUSE VESSEL. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, January 9. The Air Ministry states that German aircraft attacked five ships off the East Coast. British fighters were unable to make contact, owing to bad visibility. The enemy attacked under cover of a mist with bombs and machine-guns. Two of the attacked ships were merchantment off the east coast of Scotland. and two other merchantmen were further south. Two Heinkels attacked a fifth ship. A number of bombs were dropped and the ship was damaged. The lastnamed is believed to be a lighthouse service ship. The bombers disappeared shortly before British planes arrived on the scene. Forty persons were aboard the lighthouse ship, and it is believed 32 were wounded, one of them fatally. Unidentified planes subsequently flew over the Firth of Forth at a great height. DUTCH SHIP SUNK (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) AMSTERDAM. Janaury 9. The Dutch cargo boat Truida was J sunk by a mine in the North Sea. The ' crew of four was picked up.