Evening star., 1941-11-16
Nazis Credit 7 Subs
With Torpedoing Of
Ark Royal, Malaga
Announcement Is First
Disclosure Of U-Boots
In Mediterranean
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
BERLIN, Nov. l5.-The German
high command credited two of its
submarines today with a great new
success" in which not only the Brit
ish aircraft carrier Ark Royal was
sunk. but the 81 .00O-ton British bat
tleship Malaga was declared severely
damaged and further British units
hit by torpedoes."
The announcement disclosed for
the first time that Nazi U-boats were
operating in the Mediterranean.
Yesterdays Berlin comment. when
the British Admiralty announced
loss Of the Ark Royal, was simply
that the vessel was attacked in an
Italian operations zone.
CFrom Algeciras, Spain, it was
reported that the Malaya has ar
rived at Gibraltar with slight
propeller damage
The Italian high command,
which in its cOmmuniques fire.
quently repeats German an.
nouncements on Mediterranean
area operations, has been silent
on the Ark Royal
italian newspapers for the
most part published under big
page one headlines Berlin's an
nouncement that German sub
marines sank the Ark Royal.
On Friday they had given SINH
lar prominence to London's an
nouncement of the loss)
Formation Was Attacked.
The Malaga. which the British put
back into action after repairs in New
York. was damaged so severely she
had to be towed into the harbor of
Gibraltar" special high command
communique stated cThe Malaga
left New York before mid-August)
THE German Navy has scored
great new success" the announce
ment said. Submarines attacked a
formation Of British battleships in
the Western Mediterranean.
In the course OF the attack, two
submarines under command of 1t.
Comdrs. Hans George Reschke and
Friedrich Guggenberger sank the
Ark Royal and damaged the Battle
snip Malaga so severely she had to
be towed into the harbor OF Gibral-
tar
Further units were hit by torpe-
does. The aircraft carrier Ark ROYAL
was severely damaged September 26.
1899. as a result Of air attack. but
after repairs she was put in service
again. The British Admiralty al
ready has admitted this loss
This action of Gibraltar was de-
scribed by Berlin commentators to-
night as naval engagement of the
first importance. The terse state
ment that further British units"
were hit was not amplified. the
Germans apparently preierring to
make the British guess how much
is known here of additional losses.
Dimcult Sea for U-boats.
The authoritative commentary
Dienst aus Deutschland. observing
that the U-boat exploit was the
worlds first confirmation that there
were German submarines in the
Mediterranean, said that for the
time being the world would have to
guess how they got there and where
their bases are.
Dlenst added that the Mediter-
ranean is regarded as a difficult sea
Tor U-boats. The water is clear so
that they can be seen at a consid-
erable depth by observers in planes.
Also, the surface often is so calm
that the underwater disturbance
caused by submerged craft creates
ripples attracting the attention of
enemy surface vessels. Once OBJ
served, it was said, U-boat in the
Mediterranean often has less chance
70 escape than in the rough North
Sea