ATTACK ON CONVOY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1941, Page 5

ATTACK ON CONVOY

REPORTED BY GERMANS CLAIM THAT SEVEN SHIPS WERE SUNK. AND ESCORTING DESTROYER DAMAGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 25. A special German High Command communique claims that U-boats and German warships sank a number of enemy merchantmen in a stronglyprotected convoy sailing from England to Gibraltar after a pursuit of several days. A Lisbon message says that seven British ships are reported to have been sunk in an attack on a convoy. One escorting destroyer was damaged. SECOND LULL IN U-BOAT ACTIVITIES. FIRST LORD'S STATEMENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 24. The second lull in the U-boat campaign this summer is noted by the ■'Sunday Times," which points out that in the 'first 21 days of August the German bulletins recorded only one U-boat attack on shipping, while the Italians referred to two. The first lull was from July 11 to July 28, when no successes were claimed by the Germans. No statement of Allied losses for July has been issued, but Berlin claimed some 40,700 tons, and as the German figures are always exaggerated it is suggested that the actual sinkings in July were probably much less. It is also recalled that Mr Alexander, referring to attacks on U-boats recently, said that July was the best month since he went to the Admiralty in May, 1940. ENEMY SHIPS SEIZED IN UNITED STATES. MANNING BY BRITISH CREWS ALLOWED. WASHINGTON, August 24. President Roosevelt signed an executive order which has the effect of allowing British masters and crews to operate the German, Italian, and Danish ships which were seized in American seaports earlier in the year. SHIPS AT LISBON PART OF ATTACKED CONVOY. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LISBON. August 25. Fifteen British merchantmen have arrived. They are reported as part of a convoy of 25 ships which was attacked by U-boats and dive-bombers off the Spanish coast. A British freighter landed 25 members of the crew of the Ciscar, one of the ships of the convoy.