NAVY STRIKES HOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1940, Page 5

NAVY STRIKES HOME

THE NARVIK ONSLAUGHT CROWNED WITH COMPLETE SUCCESS. ESTIMATE OF GERMAN LOSSES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 13. The Admiralty announces: ■’Since the attack upon German destroyers in Narvik on Wednesday by the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, this flotilla, with reinforcements. has been blockading the enemy in Narvik Fiord. This morning about noon the battleship H.M.S. Warspite, accompanied by a strong force of destroyers using mine-sweeping and other appliances, advanced up the fiord to attack the German destroyers, some of them already damaged, which were sheltering in the harbour and also to eengage shore batteries which might have been erected. “According to reports which have been received from the commander of the expedition, Vice-Admiral Whitworth, who hoisted his flag in the Warspite, the attack was extremely successful. “The enemy opposition was not found to be remarkably severe. A field howitzer mounted ashore was put out of action by the fire of H.M.S. Cossack, and four German destroyers were shattered and sunk in Narvik Bay. “Three others fled up Rombacks Fiord, a small inlet eight or nine miles behind Narvik town. These were pursued, engaged and destroyed.” At the moment of issuing the communique. the Admiralty was not precisely informed as to the conditions in Narvik town. Parties of men. possibly German soldiers, have been seen escaping from it over the hills, and further details are awaited. This destruction of seven enemy destroyers was not achieved without some loss. Three British destroyers were damaged in the fight, but not seriously, and the British loss of life is believed to have been very small. No estimate can be made at present of the German losses of personnel, but the seven destroyers must have contained more than 1000 men. The Admiralty has signalled congratulations to the Comrnander-in-Chief of the British Fleet. Admiral Sir Charles Forbes, Vice-Admiral Whitworth, and the officers and men engaged in this vigorous, daring and skilfully conducted action, which may well tend to clarify the situation on this part of the Norwegian coast. The name of the Cossack is well known to all the world as the destroyer which rescued the British prisoners from the Altmark. The Warspite is a battleship completed in 1915 with an armament of eight 15-inch. eight G-inch and eight 4-inch guns, and a speed of 24 knots. She was rebuilt in 1937. Vice-Admiral Whitworth has had a distinguished naval career, having seen service in the last war. in which lie gained the Distinguished Service Order, and was mentioned in dispatches. He commanded the 2nd destroyer flotilla in the Mediterranean from 1928 to 1931 and H.M.S. Rodney in 193 G. He was created Commander of the Bath in 1938