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NAVAL SITUATION.
General Review.
THE period at sea has again been relatively quiet, and U-boat activity has further diminished. German air attacks on shipping have continued.
Home Waters.
2. There was German aircraft activity on the East Coast on the 1st, 2nd and 6th March. On the morning of the 1st March six ships were attacked, the Norwegian S.S. Vestfoss being sunk east of the Orkneys and two neutral ships being slightly damaged.
On the morning of the 2nd March between 4:30 A.M. and 6.30 A.M. German aircraft were again active from the Orkneys to the Humber and in the eastern portion of the English Channel. H.M.S. Jaguar, the minesweeper Cypress and eleven ships were attacked, with little damage, and the Dutch S.S. Elziena (197 tons) was sunk off Blyth. The British India S.S. Domala, and the Dutch S.S. Jonge Willem were attacked 30 miles east of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight. The Domala was hit by three bombs and set on fire. The attacking aircraft was showing her navigation lights, thereby deceiving the Domala into thinking she was friendly. H.M.S. Viscount and the S.S. Jonge Willem, in spite of the easterly gale blowing, rescued 193 survivors. The number of lives lost was 102. H.M.S. Viscount was slightly damaged in endeavouring to go alongside. The Domala was eventually beached in Lyminton Bay and flooded down, having been on fire in four out of five holds. It is hoped to salvage the ship.
On the evening of the 2nd March enemy aircraft attacked trawlers off the Humber and off Scarborough, with little result.
3. On the 6th March, after unusual activity on the part of the German wireless beacon stations, attacks developed at dusk. H.M.S. Pintail and H.M.S. Mallard, two convoys, four merchant ships and the Cross Sands Light Vessel were attacked by about nine aircraft off the East Coast as far north as Aberdeen. Some of the enemy aircraft showed navigation lights. Fighter aircraft were sent up to the assistance of the convoys, but in the darkness no interceptions were made. Little damage was done, and only two casualties to personnel have so far been reported.
4. During the week it has been blowing a gale in Northern Waters, but the Norwegian convoys have been maintained, and a strong force of heavy ships has been at sea to act as covering force for them and the Northern Patrol.
The German naval supply ship Altmark left Josing Fjord under her own power on the 6th March, and proceeded inside territorial waters towards the Skagerrak, escorted by two Norwegian destroyers.
The Cunard White Star S.S. Queen Elizabeth, escorted by four destroyers for part of the way, sailed for New York on the 2nd March and arrived there safely on the 7th.
Two minelaying operations were carried out during the week-one by H.M.S. Teviot Bank in the Moray Firth, and another by four destroyers in the Heligoland Bight.
Naval Casualties.
5. The total casualties in His Majesty's Fleet up to date are as follows:-
February
Killed Wounded
Prisoners of War
Total
:.
Officers. Ratings.
Totals.
29
285
314
4
16
20
None
None
None
33
301
334
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