BRITISH NAVY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20992, 20 December 1939, Page 7

BRITISH NAVY

GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS SWEPT THE SEAS WEAKNESS OF NAZIS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 13 In a broadcast speech today the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Winston Churchill, characteristically swept the seas in a confident survey. He revealed that a considerable proportion of Germany’s naval strength was hopelessly beaten in tactics in the past week. The First Lord said that, in spite of surrounding Britain, the first division of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, escorted by the Main Fleet, smoothly sailed into a British harbour yesterday. “In the North Sea, British submarines have had the best week 1 can remember in this or the last war,” said Mr Churchill. ‘‘They suffer because there are few targets and they are not allowed to sink merchant ships without warning or without providing for the safety of the crews. They work mostly among minefields in the stronglydefended waters of the Heligoland Bight, and German warships hardly ever venture out of port. Blew To Pieces “The submarine Salmon last week was most praiseworthy,” said Mi Churchill. “She blew to pieces by a volley of torpedoes one of the larger German U-boats, then abstained from torpedoing the Bremen when she had that enormous ship at her mercy, and th/n, last Thursday, sighted a fleet of German war vessels on one of their rare excursions. She fired torpedoes at a cruiser squadron, and hit a 6000ton cruiser with one torpedo and another cruiser of equal size with two torpedoes. The cruisers were possibly able to reach home, but it is by no means certain in me case of one of tnem, and both will be out of action for months. Meanwhile, the entire German fleet abandoned whatever enterprise it had in mind. “Today the submarine Ursula reports that she sank last Thursday a 0000-ton cruiser of the Koln class, although it was surrounded by destroyers. “A considerable proportion of the total German cruiser strength has been sunk or put out of action in a single week—the same week in which the Admiral Graf Spee met her inglorious end. Germans Venting Spleen “The German Navy and Air Force are venting their spleen by redoubling their efforts in sinking fishing smacks and drowning fishermen in the North Sea. Yesterday and today their Air Force tried to bomb unarmed merchantmen, including an Italian ship, and even machinegunned sailors on the decks. “I am glad to tell you that the heat of their fury far exceeded the accuracy of their aim. Of the 24 ships bombed, only six small boats engaged in fishing, and one coasting vessel, were sunk, and the bulk of the ships were not even hit by the many bombs aimed at them. “These outrages are the tactics of a guilty regime that is feeling the long arm of sea power upon its shoulders. In spite of the German mines around Britain, the whole vast movement of British traffic is proceeding without interruption.” Tribute to the Fleet Paying a tribute to Admiral Sii Charles Forbes, Commander-in-Chiel of the Main Fleet, Mr Churchill said the Main Fleet had spent more days at sea since the outbreak of war than nad ever been required at any equal period in modern naval warfare. Concluding, Mr Churchill praised the conduct of officers and men when the chance for honour came suddenly to the three cruisers, Exeter, Achilles and Ajax, in the South Atlantic. “We must go back a long way in naval history to find more brilliant and resolute fighting than theirs,” said the First Lord, “but if the call should come elsewhere, equal skill and courage would be forthcoming. “Rough and violent times lie ahead, out everything that has happened since the outbreak of war should give the nation confidence that difficulties will be surmountsd, problems solved and duty done.” Nazis’ Hysterical Outburst • The broadcast coincided with an almost hysterical outburst of unjustifiable claims by Germany that the German Air Force was supreme in large-scale attacks on the British naval patrols in the North Sea and a major air battle over Heligoland Bight. PARIS NIGHT LIFE REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS EFFECT OF SOLDIERS’ PROTEST (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright; PARIS, Dec. 18 Forty ballrooms were* re-opened in Paris, after the raising of the ban on public dancing. This was the outcome of criticism by soldiers on leave, of the lack of night life. Restrictions on the size of audiences have'also been relaxed, to encourage the re-opening of theatres.

CO-OPERATION IN WAR

ASSURANCE BY BENGAL (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrignt) ! (Received Dec. 20, 3 p.m.) CALCUTTA. Dec. 19 The Bengal Assembly, by 142 to 82 votes, passed a Government resolution assuring Britain of full cooperation in the war and urging the granting oi Dominion status after the war, with a new constitution. Dr. Sarker, the Finance Minister, j has resigned, on the ground that he is ! unable to agree to the association of ; minorities with the framing of the new Constitution. I