ABSURD CLAIMS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21364, 7 March 1941, Page 6

ABSURD CLAIMS

SHIPPING LOSSES ! NAZLFASCIST STORIES BOLSTERING MORALE (Omclal Wireless) (Received March 7, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, March 6 In the 18 months of war the claims of the enemy High Command to have | sunk or seriously damaged British ! warships amounted to more than , double the fleet possessed by the British Empire at the outbreak of the | war, states an Admiralty commuj nique. ! Since the enemy repeatedly dej clares that the British dockyards are ■ unable to cope with the number of I ships requiring repair, the ships claimed as seriously damaged are pre- ! sumably accounted by the enemy as out of action, in addition to those claimed to have been sunk. The number of British warships j which the German and Italian High ! Commands, in official communiques, Lave claimed sunk or seriously damaged, are as follows: Battleships and battlecruisers, 34: aircraft-carriers, 13; cruisers, 102: destroyers, 144: submarines, 71. The strength of the Empire fleets at the outbreak of the war was: Battleships and battle cruisers, 15; aircraft carriers, 7; cruisers, 62; destroyers, 185; submarines, 58. It therefore follows that the number of ships left to the Empire, according to the enemy communiques, is: Battleships and battle cruisers, minus 19; aircraft carriers, minus six; cruisers, minus 40; destroyers, plus 41; submarines, minus 13. Since it is hardly conceivable that claims on this scale could be made in good faith, it is probable that they were issued with other objects—firstly, in the hope of drawing a denial, which would convey information of the actual strength and disposition of our fleets; secondly, to bolster up the morale of the enemy peoples, who are uneasily aware of the British naval power; and thirdly, to cause alarm and despondency in enemyoccupied territories and in those countries which have been able to maintain their neutrality, and in the hope of causing anxiety among relatives and friends. RAIDS ON BRITAIN MUCH ENEMY ACTIVITY VERY FEW CASUALTIES (Official wireless) (Received March 7, 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 6 It is officially stated that there has been considerable activity by single enemy aircraft during daylight today, mostly near the east and south coast. Bombs were dropped on several places in East Anglia and Kent and at one point in the London area. The number of casualties was small. Buildings were damaged in a town on the coast of East Anglia, but elsewhere little damage was done. An enemy bomber was shot down into the Channel by our fighters this afternoon.