The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-17
GERMAN PLANES
 HIT BASE AGAIN
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(Continued from Page D
 Chatfield said that the Royal Oak was sunk at 80 a. m. Saturday. He said that it remained a matter of conjecture how U-boat was able to penetrate the harbor defenses at Scapa Flow.
 "The entry of the U-boat must be considered a remarkable exploit of professional skill and daring" Chatfield said.
 Board of Inquiry
 Chatf1eld said that 8 board of in- quiry now is sitting at Scapa Flow. He said that the U-boat apparently fired two starboard torpedoes at the Royal Oak. One of these hit the vessel in the bow.
 A untitled explosion followed and the ships store of inflammables was flooded.
 Twenty minutes later the U-boat fired three or four torpedoes and these, striking in quick succession, caused the ship to capsize and sink," Lord Chatfield said.
 He said the Royal Oak was lying at the extreme end of the harbor, and that therefore many officers and men drowned before the rescue could be organized.
 More than 300 died, he said. Serious as it is it does not affect our margin of security in heavy vessels, which remains ample, i" Chatfleld added.
 The British had 15 capital ships, including three battle cruisers as compared to two German over-age battleships and three pocket bat tleships in action. Germany has been building new capital ships, however.
 Churchill Explains
 Churchill, speaking in Commons said that the first muffled explosion in the attack on the Royal Oak was at that time believed t obe due to internal causes, but 20 minutes later three or four torpedoes sank the vessel.
 He said that intensive search of the anchorage has not yet yielded any results" as the u-boat apparent ly escaped and the British counter attack failed.
 All necessary measures are being taken to increase precautions which in the late war proved to be effec- tive" Churchill said regarding Scapa Flow.
 U-boat warfare was again inten- sified, he said, at the end of last week, but four U-boats certainly were destroyed last Friday, includ- ing two new and large craft.
 Sank 13 U-Boats
 Since the war began, Churchill said, the British Navy has sunk 13 U-Boats, damaged or sunk five others and damaged several more. The French also have destroyed a number of U-boats, he said, adding that his figures probably were an understatement.
 We believe that out of about 60 U-boats ready for action at the be- ginning of the war, about one-third already have been sunk or seriously damaged" he said.
 The British Merchant Marine has lost only 174,000 tons of shipping out of a total of 21,000 900 tons. he said.
 12 Or More Planes
 Prime Minister Neville Chamber lain, in a statement along similar lines, said that the raid on the Firth of Forth yesterday by the Germans was carried out by 12 or more planes in groups of two or three at a time.
 Three British officers and 1a ratings were killed or died of wounds, he said. Two officers were slightly wounded and Il ratings ser- iously wounded. Thirty-one ratings and two civilians were slightly wounded.
 Four German bombers were brought down, one by gun fire Others were heavily engaged Chamberlain said, and may have been unable to return to their bases.
 Damage to the cruisers South hampton and Edinburgh was slight he said Both vessels were ready for the sea, he added. The destroyer