Evening star., 1939-09-07
Chamberlain Text
Prime Minister Reports to Commons
On Britoin's War Activities

Activities
auxiliary territorial services who
are performing many tasks under
arduous conditions and thereby
relieving soldiers for fighting
duties.
Admiralty Takes Measures
Against U-Boat Attacks.
Turning to the naval side, the
most important feature up to the
present has been the Develop
ment OF German U-boat attacks
on our shipping. The sinking of
the Athena with its scenes OF
death and terror virtually opened
the war and no denials or inven-
tions on the part of Germany
will convince the public of Ger
man innocence of this crime,
which has profoundly shocked
and Mortified the world.
Apart from the case Of the
Athena there have been attacks
on other British merchant ships
by German U-boats and three
or four ships have been sunk.
On our side the admiralty have
taken immediate counter
ures. British destroyers and
other anti-Submarine craft have
been very active and large REIN
forcementS of anti-submarine
and escort vessels are rapidly
becoming available. AS the first
lord has already informed the
House. steps are being taken to
establish a convoy system at the
earliest possible moment.
This method of protection can
obviously only be instituted after
the outbreak of war and it takes
time to bring it fully into op-
Grafton, but the House can be
satisfied that it is being fully
applied with the utmost speed
and vigor.
Most Of the ships which have
been attacked are vessels which
commenced their voyages before
war had broken out and naturally
for them the full scope of our
defensive organization could not
Immediately be provided.
While certain percentage Of
weekly losses must be expected,
and 1 do not minimize the threat
to our shipping, I think the
House and the country may rest
assured that the navy with all
their wartime experience of
handling this problem and with
the added advantage of the meth
DDS of submarine detection and
destruction which have since
been developed will increasingly
bring the problem under control.
Two Direct Hits Scored
On Pocket Battleship.
I should next like to pay my
tribute to the very gallant attack
which was made by units of the
R. A. F. on certain German war;
ships off Wilhelmshaven during
which at least two hits were Sc
cured on one Of the so-called
pocket battleships.
1t will be realized that the OBJ
jectives attacked, namely the
German fleet bases at Wilhelm
shaven and at the entrance to
the Kiel Canal, are probably
among the most strongly de-
Tended points in Germany.
The manner in which the R.
A. F. attacks were pressed home
despite the strength Of the de-
fenses is worthy of the highest
praise. should also mention the
weather conditions prevailing on
the afternoon of the attack. Wis.,
ibility was extremely poor and the
final stages of the attack are
stated to have been carried out in
a binding rainStorm.
The House may also be inter-
ested to learn that those who
took part in the attack included
a number who came from the
Dominions.
As the House knows, extensive
reconnaissance flights have been
carried out over Germany on
three successive nights during
the last week by units of the
bomber command. More than
100000 copies of notes to the
German people have been dis
tributed over a wide area of
Northern and Western Germany,
including the Ruhr.
A1fho,1rh ooot, 1ooo &t,o
enemy defenses were set fully in
motion, no contact was secured
by enemy fighters and all our
aircraft returned safely.
The activity of the fighter and
coastal commands if less con-
spicuous has been no less in
tense.
From the early stages of the
emergency all squadrons of the
fighter command have been at
war stations and in a state of
instant readiness. The coastal
commands have also been busily
engaged in extensive reconnais-
sance over the surrounding seas
in order to locate and destroy
enemy submarines.
Home Defense Organization
Being Rapidly Completed.
I now wish to say something
of the organization of the home
defense services which is being
rapidly completed. The regional
organization is fllnctioninr well
There is still some shortage of
whole time personnel, but this is
chiefly now to be found in coun-
try districts.
The enforcement of the black
out is proceeding satisfactorily.
With the help of the air force
reconnaissance every night 1t has
been found possible to discover