PART OF NAVY & MERCHANT SHIPS IN DUNKIRK WITHDRAWAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1940, Page 6

PART OF NAVY & MERCHANT SHIPS IN DUNKIRK WITHDRAWAL

Treacherous Waters Navigated Under Intensive Bombing WORK OF ROYAL AIR FORCE MAGNIFICENT EXPERIENCES OF A DESTROYER (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, May 31. A naval spokesman stated that the part of the Navy and merchantmen in the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force will stand as one of the most classic in the history of the sea. Using’ all classes of ships, from destroyers downwards in shallow and treacherous waters on an unlig’hted coast, bombed intensively throughout the operation, the Navy succeeded beyond all ordinary expectation. The air protection was magnificent and undoubtedly reduced the enemy attack from something quite stupendous to an action within copeable limits. The terse report of one destroyer officer reveals that he withstood six dive-bombing attacks on his arrival outside Dunkirk Harbour, went in and picked up his quota of troops, was attacked by bombers as he sailed and gave anti-aircraft protection to a transport. The destroyer suffered twelve further attacks, during which steam-pipes were damaged. Another ship then began to tow. The troops were transferred and were landed safely in England. The destroyer, .which had been put out of action, anchored in mid-Channel, repaired her steam-pipes in ninety minutes and, despite further attacks, steamed to a south-east port. Many ships arrived damaged, landed troops and returned immediately to Dunkirk. The loss of three destroyers is nothing compared to what might have been expected.