ATTACK ON CONVOY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1940, Page 5

ATTACK ON CONVOY

IN NORTH SEA ON MONDAY DENIAL OF NAZI CLAIMS NO BRITISH SHIPS SUNK. THREE ENEMY PLANES SHOT DOWN. The Admiralty has now given the full story, the 8.8. C. states, of an enemy air attack on a British convoy in the North Sea in which the Germans claimed to have sunk seven ships, totalling 44,000 tons. None of the ships were sunk, though two were damaged and at least three of the attacking planes were shot down. Several other planes were severely damaged. Three warships between them shot down two Junkers planes and a Messerschmitt and damaged two others. The enemy losses are additional to the 2G planes already reported to have been shot down on Monday. The Germans at first claimed to have destroyed five ships, of 37,000 tons, and later raised their claim to seven ships of 44.000 tons. In fact, as stated, no ship was sunk, though two shipes sustained damage. Both are now safe.

NAZI LIES , EXPLICIT ADMIRALTY REFUTATION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, November 12. German news reports during the past few days have specialised in stories purpoting to describe successful air attacks on convoys, with sweeping claims of loss and damage inflicted, and usually with inflated estimates of tonnage. The wisdom of treating such descriptions with sceptical reserve is well shown by today’s Admiralty statement. On Monday night, a. special announcement was broadcast by Germany to the effect that five ships, totalling 37,000 tons, had been sunk in an attack on a British convoy. This claim was improved upon in today’s German High Command communique, which claimed that seven merchantmen of about 44,0Q0 tons had been sunk in this attack. The Admiralty declares that in point of fact no ships were sunk. Two ships sustained some damage, but both are safe. The Admiralty also announced the destruction by anti-aircraft fire from his Majesty’s ships of three enemy aircraft additional to those already reported destroyed. H.M.S. Vivien and H.M.S. Londonderry each shot down one Junker and the Vivien’s fire so severely damaged another that it is not likely to have regained its base. His Majesty's tug St. Mellons shot down one Messcerschmitt and damaged another enemy aircraft.