ATLANTIC CONVOYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1943, Page 4

ATLANTIC CONVOYS

CANADA & GREAT BRITAIN COMPLETE CHANGE OF TRADE ROUTES. U.S.A. RETAINS STRATEGIC RESPONSIBILITY. OTTAWA, April 30. Canada and Britain have assumed complete 'charge of trade convoys from North Western Atlantic ports to _ the United Kingdom, it is announced in a joint statement by the Navy Minister, the Hon. A. L. Macdonald, and the Air Minister, the Hon. C. G. Power. The United Slates retains strategic responsibility for the Western Atlantic, including escort operations not related to the British trade convoys and local Canadian traffic.

Recognition of the extreme importance of the North Atlantic life line is indicated by the appointment of Com-mander-in-Chief Canadian North West Atlantic. The decision to make such an appointment arose out of discussions between Britain, the United States and Canada. Rear Admiral Murray, R.C.N., since September, 1942, Commanding Officer Atlantic Coast (Navy), has been selected to fill the new position. Rear Admiral Murray has a long and successful record of anti-submarine operations. All antisubmarine aviation operations in the North West Atlantic will be under operational control of Air Vice Marshal George Johnson, Air Officer Commanding in Chief of the Eastern Air Command. New long range Canadian bombers and American machines will patrol to “somewhere in mid-Atlantic,” whence British bombers will take over. Thus a trans-Atlantic umbrella will oe established pnd air protection afforded to merchant and other ships every mile of the route from North America to Europe. Britain and Canada now share responsibility across the North Atlantic in surface and sky protection for trade convoys. The Navy and Air Force will work as a team with the naval authorities outlining the work to be done and Air Force authorities working out details of carrying out air operations.

The assumption of this new command and provision of ships, planes and men to carry out its operations at sea, the statement observes, has been made possible by the amazing growth in fighting strength of the Canadian Navy and the Canadian Air Force. Canadian ships have been providing close to half of the convoy protection in the North Atlantic, in addition to other operations, while in the past year and a half R.C.A.F, aircraft have made about 50 attacks on enemy submarines. The statement adds that the United States forces which have been taking part in the North Atlantic anti-submarine warfare, as indicated by the news from the Pacific and North Africa and other fronts, have many other duties to perform. The battle of the North Atlantic will therefore become Sie responsibility of the Canadian and British forces. United States escort vessels, however, are to continue to assist the Canadian and British forces, and the United States Army Air Force will continue to furnish certain material and crews.