THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 24, 1939
CONVOY ANSWER TO RAID ROUSES ENTHUSIASM
London, To-day.
PRIDE IS EXPRESSED in the newspapers at the man- ner in which British airmen and seamen dealt with the Nazi bombers' attack on the British convoy in the North Sea on Saturday, when, of 12 German aircraft sent on this venture, four were brought down and none of the ships of the convoy or of the escort was damaged. When the raiders were finally driven off, one of the escort vessels passed along the lines of the con- voy flying a signal from the Commanding Offi~ cer congratulating them on the way they had kept formation during the attack.
The "Daily Telegraph," while ad- mitting that It is unwise to count on the maintenance of immunity, and emphasising. that it is only the North Sea trade with which German air- craft can attempt serious interfer- ence, says: "It is plain that the ar- rangements for cooperation between escort vessels and fighter aircraft worked with admirable efficiency.
"There could be no better answer than this complete defeat and dis- astrous rout to the claims which the Nazi broadcast put forth on the eve of the fight that German bombers rule the North Sea.
A CONFESSION
Resort to the air arm for the de-
struction of merchant vessels is in itself a confession that submarines have disappointed the Nazi leaders. The facts are grim for them.
"Air bombing was imperative if there was to be any hope that the war on our ships would frighten us and threaten neutrals and, perhaps most important, encourage the German people."
+
says
|
The "Manchester Guardian" One by one the problems which vexed the military leaders of all countries before the war are being put to the test. One of the most problematical was how the balance between de- fence and attack in the case of con- voys would be left by the introduc- tion of air power as new element.
FURTHER
DETAILS
OF ATTACK
ON CONVOY
London, To-day.
Further facts have become available regarding the Ger- man air attack on the British convoy in the North Sea on Saturday, as seen from the escort and the convoyed ves- sels themselves.
From time to time during morn-- ing, enemy seaplanes were sighted shadowing the convoy from low-lying clouds at extreme range.
Their appearance was greeted with spasmodic bursts of fire from the es- cort vessels.
At 12.30 p.m., out of the mist, ap- peared three bombing planes, diving on the convoy.
Fire was opened by all escort ves- sels and the enemy, after passing over the convoy and dropping several bombs, banked steeply and vanished
NOTE OF CAUTION · Commenting on Saturday's engage- ment, the "Guardian" says: "In some into the mist. ways this episode is the most en- The sky to the south-east now clear- couraging of any that has yet takened and there was extreme visibility to place."
It also adds a note of caution until there has been wider experience of air attack on convoys in varied cir
cumstances.
The naval correspondents of news- papers generally regard the lesson of the incident as heartening, and stress the successful co-operation of fighter aircraft in the
convoy system. - British Wireless.
KING'S XMAS BROADCAST
London, To-day.
The King will broadcast to his people on Christmas Day at the con- clusion of a Round-the-Empire pro-
gramme.
seaward.
At 1 p.m. the seaplanes were sighted high up in the clouds to the south- east and presently, two flights of three turned to attack the convoy."
HEAVY BARRAGE
The leading escort vessel opened a heavy barrage, from which the attack- ers turned away. Bombs were seen falling on the horizon.
Again they ́ turned convoy and were
towards the visible ⚫ now
to all escort ships, who opened fire in the line of advance and again turned them.
A flight of British fighters now came swooping across the convoy from the land and when last seen from the leading escort vessel were disappear- ing into the clouds to the eastward in pursuit of the flying seaplanes.
No hits were obtained on the con-
It is hoped that despite the difficul-voy and there were no casualties. ties of radio communication in war-
The convoy reached its destination
time, it will be possible to take all the in due course without further moles- Dominion and Colonial contributors to tation the programme direct, without using recordings.
On this special occasion, a message from our ally, France, may be in cluded British Wireless.
COOLIE'S. LOSS
An ambulance 00olle
the Kwong Wah
ed the theft
rency and rency a.m. and
The British fighters shot down four
of the German bombing planes.-Bri- tish Wireless.
BELGIAN RIVER. OVERFLOWS
Ghent, Oct. 16. #Rive broke its dykes. considerable
in the Zéle res
damages
are said
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