CLAIMS BY GERMANY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21211, 6 September 1940, Page 6

CLAIMS BY GERMANY

BRITISH SHIPPING SUNK DESTROYERS & MERCHANTMEN DAMAGE TO AERODROMES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 6, 3.15 p.m ) BERLIN, Sept. 5 A communique states: The Navy recently sank five British de&Troyers —namely, the Express, the Esk, the Ivanhoe, and two reported sunk by U-boat on September 2. A submarine sank several armed merchantmen, totalling 27,000 tons, from a strongly-protected convoy. A motor torpedo boat flotilla last night attacked a convoy oS the east coast of England, sinking with torpedoes five armed merchantmen, totalling 35,000 tons, including a 12,000-ton tanker, also an accompanying destroyer of the Imogen class. The convoy was dispersed. The air force on September 4 effectively bombed aeroplane factories, aerodromes and a munition depot, directly hitting hangars and the buildings at an aero-engine factory at Rochester and an aircraft factory at Weybridge. An air battle developed, in which our fighters were successful. Fighter formations last night attacked mainly ports and dockyards on the west and east coast of England. Night raiders also attacked aerodromes at Liverpool, Swansea, Bristol, Weymouth, Chatham, Poole, Tilbury, Great Yarmouth and Hull, causing numerous fires. The mining of English harbours was continued. Raids on Berlin British raiders on Berlin dropped bombs on two places in the city area. The damage was insignificant. A bomb on a north German town fell on a working-class settlement, killing eighteen civilians who had not gone to shelter. The British lost 54 planes in day fights, including one by gunfire and two on the ground. Seventeen of ours are missing. Denial by Britain A British communique states: The truth is that apart from the Ivanhoe and the Esk no British destroyers have been sunk, although one other, the Destroyer Express, was damaged, but it is safely in port.