Evening star., 1941-07-19
Half Of Nazi Division
Reported Destroyed
By Russian Navy
Sea and Air Forces Fight
Caravan of Transports
In Gulf Of Riga
BY EUGENE PETROv,

Foreign correspondent OF the star and
North American Newspaper Alliance.
MOSCOW, July 19-In its Gus
tomarlly brief style, a Soviet COM
munique reported the sinking in the
Baltic of two German deStroyers
and l3 troop transports.
Real Admiral Alfuzov assistant
chief of the naval general staff, told
your correspondent that more de-
tailed and exact data is now avail
able to make it clear that the VIC
tory of the Soviet Navy was much
more impressive than might have
been judged from preliminary re-
ports.
Last Saturday evening scouting
vessels of the Soviet Baltic feet
spled a large caravan of German
armed transports near Windau en-
tering the Gulf of Riga and making
for Russian shores. The Nazi ships
were accompanied by strong force
of torpedo boats, escort ships and
torpedo launches, as we'll as by a
considerable fleet of Messerschmitt
planes. 1t has been established def
nitely that the transports numbered
no less than so ships. loaded with
troops, tanks and munitions.
On receiving the report of its
scouting vessels, the, Soviet Baltic
Fleet command gave orders to de-
stroy the raiding party while light
Soviet naval vessels were still on
their way to the spot. The NaZi
ships came within sight of Soviet
coastal artillery. which at once
opened fire. First hits we're OBJ
served.
Attacked From Air.
simultaneously the German ves-
sells were attacked from the air and
a few minutes later came a light
ming attack by Soviet torpedo
launches which approached the
German vessels from the rear. The
attack seemed to be unexpected.
Fire broke out on many of the Ger
man vessels
Then Russian destroyers came
into action. Night fell, but the bat
tie grew more intense because the
burning German ships offered a
good target. Soon the Germans
were demorallzed. their hotilla
driven from its course. Burning
vessels drifted helplessly. One after
another went TO the bottom Sew
eral ships sought salvation by run
ming aground.
In all there were sunk l3 German
transports with troops and NUM-
tionS, barge-carrying tanks and
four destroyers instead of the two
originally reported. The destruction
also included German escort ship
and five torpedo launches. In ad-
dition 13 German transports, one
destroyer and two torpedo launches
were damaged instead of five. Their
fate is unknown since in the morn
ing no trace of them could be dis
covered. It is scarcely likely that
many succeeded in reaching their
own shores.
10000 Tons of Ships Sunk.
The German idea apparently was
to repeat the audacious operation
they had managed to pull off in
Norway, but this time they were
completely foiled. Their aim was to
land big force on the flank of the
Soviet Army operating in Estonia.
The ships taking part in the en-
gagement consisted, on the German
side, of eight destroyers and large
number of torpedo launches, not
counting armed transports and
escort ships. On the Soviet side.
there were four destroyerS and 10
torpedo launches.
In all the Russians sank vessels
totalling no less than 10000 regis
tered tons not counting warships.
Rear Admiral Alfuzov said. The
four sunken destroyers were of the
Karl Halster class, each with
displacement of 1871 tons and
speed of SO knots.