Evening star., 1940-04-22
By ERNEST NEAL,

LONDON. April 20 (N.AN.A).-
At dawn, cold bitter, scarcely fort
night ago we set out as an escort
vessel. Our work had been proceed
ing for some days before we first
tasted blood. That was April 9 when
on patrol to keep neutrals safe from
our mine fields. We were outside
the southern tip Narvik Fjord. Sud-
denly out tof the binding snowstorm
came the Scharnhorst, accompanied
by another cruiser of the Hipper
class. We cleared for action and
then we saw the Renown, splen-
did and heartening sight, in hot
pursuit of the enemy.
At 4:10 am. that morning we en-
gagged the Scharnhorst and an un-
identified cruiser, playing our part
alongside the Renown, in weather
that was so rough that eventually
we had to drop out of action with
ell our accompanying destroyers.
But not before we had had a chance
to blaze away at both enemy ships.
They were thrilling moments while
lliCy 1hSVS0, 1lIC NIAldAlAlo ot
straddled us with bricks navy slang
for shells) and it took some pretty
splendid navigation to get out of
that spot. The Renown was firing
away and it was possible to see her
shells hitting the Scharnhorst. One
particular salvo from the Renown
put paid" to one of Scharnhorst's
rear guns which had been particu-
larly devastating There was a huge
splash and flash of color and the
gun that had just fired four salvos
in succession packed up so far as
we were concerned.
Germans Ran for Cover.
I can tell you that before very
long the Germans did not like it
q little bit and ran for cover of
the snoWstorm. AS they went our
attack centered on the Hipper
cruiser. The Scharnhorst must have
had several hits, for a great deal
OF wreckage came floating past us
kitbags, lifebelts and paravanes-all
of German origin, which probably
were blown out of the ship by the
Renown's guns. The Renown had
q dud shell through her above
water line, but it was the German
who panicked to get away in the
binding snowstorm. With the dud
through her, probably a 1,300-pound
shell, the Renown fought on until
visibility beat her. 1t was down to
$50 yards and poor at that. Just
after this we lost contact with the
enemy. They were nearer to the
center of the snowstorm than was
our vessel and the storm made a
screeneinto which the Scharnl1orss
and the cruiser lodged.
There was nothing to it but to
continue our work of patroling and
this we did until II am. 1t was
then we heard by wireless from the
Glowworm that she had engaged
two enemy destroyers and that an
unknown cruiser was on her star
board bow. We waited for further
news, but none came. Her wireless
must have been shot away imme-
diately after sending out the earlier
message. We left our position soon
afterWard.
The moment had come for Capt.
r. F. Warburton Lee to send the
now historic signal, 1--WE are going
into action" 1t was signaled to the
Admiralty and was his decision to
attack Narvik.
Well, We welcomed the time for
action. Up to the previous day we
had not fired an angry shot, and
though the average age of the men
was little more than 20, they were
all keen as mustard when the signal
was posted after conference in the
captains cabin. The torpedo lieu
tenant went to the mess deck and
called the men together to tell them
Of the decision to attack.
Prepared for Invasion.
There was a busy day ahead of us,
preparing for the invasion of Narvik,
and the land batteries and condi-
tions would be similar on each of
the five destroyers in the flotilla.
4JeSSAA ACoJ4 Oy Cl w do W 1dL1o 40 lIlCll
In a platoon making an expedition
ary force of $50. They were served
out with ammunition, iron rations
and full equipment and as the main
weapon would probably be their
Lewis guns these were prepared, too.
With the last detail arranged, we
entered the ford and after travers-
ing only a short distance we picked
up Norwegian pilot who spoke very
good English.
We asked him what the strength
Of the Germans was up the fjord
and he replied, II would not go up
there unless 1 had three times your
force" Decision depended on the
captain whether we should attack
now. He was all for it and his men
were with him to a man when the
notice was posted.
The next problem was the mines
we expected to find blocking our
way through the ford Warburton
Lee decided that if we entered it
at high tide we would have foot
clearance over mines, and at high
tide our navigator, 1t. Comdr Cor
don Smith, took us off without the
aid of the pilot. We were told to be
off for action stations at / o'clock
next morning, the 10th, and we
took up our stations as the fotilla
crept up the ford in darkness.
There was again binding snow
storm. We just missed an ice foe,
and altogether it was a remarkable
feat to navigate us up. Tea was
handed around to the men around
the guns, with little rum to keep
them warm, and at 4:10 am. we
were right up to Narvik.
NaLi Destroyer Torpedoed.
The first vessel we saw was British
and we decided not to touch her. We
slowed around to face the harbor
and shore batteries, which were
tucked away to the north side of
the ford and we fired torpedoes
from the starboard at German de-
stroyer and the first absolutely blew