NAZIS’ EXAGGERATION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21188, 10 August 1940, Page 7

NAZIS’ EXAGGERATION

SINKINGS BY SUBMARINES STATEMENTS BY CREW HIT CLAIMED EVERY TIME (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 3 T’- S.f 5® ?' *5 Jju _s > t -5 i & 5 vlw Is-zTSEB A partial explanation of the grossly exaggerated German claims relating to shipping sunk by submarines is thought to be offered by statements made by captured members of the crew of the Ul3, which was sunk by British naval forces. According to these prisoners, the Ul3 sank 22,000 tons of shipping on one cruise in April. Comparing the dates of the alleged sinking with the days on which ships were actually sunk, it seems that U-boat commanders claim a hit each time a torpedo is fired, and sometimes when it is not. Thus, men of the Ul3 claimed to have sunk a destroyer in Fair Island Channel on April 17, and Zeesen, broadcasting in English to America on April 25, stated: “On April 17, a German submarine sank off the Shetlands one destroyer of the Tribal clas^.” In fact, there was no attack on any warship in that vicinity on or about that date. The next claim made by the crew is well founded, in that they said that on the same day the Ul3 sank a merchantman vessel. On April 17 the Swainby, a vessel of about 5000 tons, was sunk without warning by a torpedo. During the night of April 25-26, the crew stated, two torpedoes were fired. If this is true, both must have missed their targets, which were not aware of the U-boat’s presence, because there has been no record of any ship being attacked that night. On April 28 a tanker is claimed to have been sunk. She was brought safely to port. Thus, on this cruise, in which 22,000 tons is claimed, only 5000 tons actually was sunk.