STERN PURSUIT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1941, Page 5

STERN PURSUIT

MAGNIFICENTLY ORGANISED BY ROYAL NAVY Fugitive Ship Crippled by Fleet Air Arm CRUISER DORSETSHIRE STRIKES FINAL BLOW ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS LONDON, May 27. GERMANY’S LARGEST AND MOST MODERN BATTLESHIP, THE BISMARCK, WAS SENT TO THE BOTTOM BY TORPEDOES FIRED BY THE CRUISER DORSETSHIRE, AT 11.1 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING, 400 MILES WEST OF BREST. This news was announced by Mr Churchill in the House of Commons. The sinking’ of the Bismarck ended a chase which lasted for more than three days and extended over 1750 miles from the time the Hood exploded and sank in action with the Bismarck near Greenland. British reconnaissance planes reported the presence last week of the Bismarck and a cruiser at Bergen, in Norway. On Friday the Norfolk and Suffolk, on patrol between Greenland and Iceland, sighted the German battleship and cruiser steaming at high speed in a south-westerly direction and shadowed the enemy successfully throughout the night. On Saturday morning the Hood and Prince of Wales made contact and joined action. At one time the Bismarck was seen to be on fire. During this action the Hood was hit in the magazine and blew up. The Prince of Wales was slightly damaged and the chase continued on a south-westerly course. On Saturday evening the Prince of Wales again went into action for a short time. The Bismarck turned away to the west and then swung to the south. Torpedo-carrying aircraft from the Victorious scored a hit on the Bismarck and on Sunday morning the British forces lost touch with the enemy about 350 miles south-west of Greenland. The main body of the British Fleet was sweeping southwest from the north at high speed and other units north-west from Gibraltar, while the Rodney and Ramilles, which were on escort duty in the North Atlantic, also took part in the chase. Aircraft of the Coastal Command and the R.A.F. stationed in Newfoundland also co-operated. It was not until 10.30 o’clock on Monday morning that the Bismarck was again sighted 550 miles west of Land’s End. Three-quarters of an hour later planes from the Ark Royal took off to attack the Bismarck. The planes launched an unsuccessful a, Hack but in a second attack later two hits by torpedoes were made. The Bismarck made two complete circles and lost speed. At 1.30 o’clock this morning’ three destroyers made a torpedo attack, the Cossack and Maori scoring hits, and a fire broke out on the battleship, which later stopped, although it was still capable of heavy and accurate gunfire. At daylight today more planes from the Ark Royal took off but had to turn back on account of bad visibility. The Bismarck engaged the destroyers by gunfire. Later the cruiser Norfolk went into action, and very soon after the German battleship was engaged by Britain’s heavy ships. The Dorsetshire was then ordered to sink the Bismarck by torpedo. So far as is known the only damage sustained by British vessels, apart from the sinking of the Hood, was that to the Prince of Wales already mentioned—damage which did not prevent her continuing the pursuit. Mr Churchill said the Hood, a splendid vessel 23 years old, was a serious loss to the British Navy. Still more serious was the loss of the officers and men on the battle-cruiser. The sinking of the Bismarck, he said, had definitely simplified Britain’s task of maintaining mastery of the northern seas and the northern blockade. Measures were being taken regarding the enemy cruiser which was in company with the Bismarck.