Evening star., 1941-05-27

passing through Denmark Strait be-
tween Iceland and Greenland.
AT dawn on Saturday morning
the Prince of Wales and the Hood
intercepted these two enemy vessels.
There Is no detailed account OF
action because events have been
moving so rapidly since, but the
Hood was struck at about $4,000
yards by shell which penetrated
into one Of the magazines and she
blew up with only a very few sur
vivors.
This splendid vessel. although de-
signed % years ago, is serious loss
to the Royal Navy and even more
so are the men and officers who
manned her.
Shook Off Pursuit.
During the whole of Saturday
our ships remained in touch with
the Bismarck and her consort and
arrangements were made effecting
battle at dawn yesterday morning,
but during the night the weather
deteriorated, visibility decreased
and the Bismarck, by making a
sharp turn, shook off pursuit.
Il do not know what has happened
to the Prince Eugen, but measures
are being taken with respect to her.
Yesterday, shortly before mid
day, Catalina aircraft. one of thu
considerable number of those very
far reaching scouting planes which
have been sent to us by the U. S. A,
picked up the Bismarck and it was
seen that she was making for
French ports-Brest or St. Nazaire
and, on this, further rapid DISPOSE
tions were made by the Admiralty.
Il may say that the moment she
was known to be at sea the whole
apparatus of our ocean control came
into play, very far-reaching combi-
nations began to work, and last eve
ning-from yesterday afternoon I
am afraid I have not had any time
to prepare detailed statement
fleet air arm torpedo bombers and
planes from the Ark Royal-at-
tackled and made a succession of
attacks upon the Bismarck, which
now appeared to be alone without
her escort.
Struck by TorpedOes.
About midnight I learned that
the Bismarck had been struck by two
torpedoes-one amidships and the
other astern.
This second torpedo apparently
affected the steering of the ship, for
not only was she reduced to very low
speed, but she continued making un-
comfortable circles in the sea, in
which condition she was attacked by
our flotillas with two more torpedoes,
which brought her virtually to
standstill far from help and far out
side the range within which enemy
bomber aircraft from the French
coast could come upon the scene.
This morning at daylight, or
shortly after daylight, the Bismarck
was attacked by British pursuing
battleships, and l do not know what
were the results of the lombard
ment.
1T appears, however, that the
Bismarck was not sunk by gunfre
and she will be dispatched by tor
pedo. This Is now proceeding and
it is thought that there cannot be
any lengthy delay in disposing of
this vessel.
Newest BattIeship.
Great as is our loss in the Hood.
the Bismarck must be regarded as
the most powerful enemy battleship,
as she is the newest battleship, and
the striking of her from the Ger
man Navy is very definite SIM
plification of the task of main
tanning an effective mastery of the
northern seas and maintenance of
the northern blockade.
Il daresay in a few days it will
be possible to give much more de-
tailed account and, although there
is shade as well as light in this
picture, I feel we have every rea-
son to be satisfied with the outcome
of this fierce and memorable naval
encounter"
Later the British issued a special
bulletin saying the Bismarck had
definitely been sunk, and short
time after this A. V. Alexander,
First Lord of the Admiralty, an
nounced the German battleship
went to the bottom at II am. after
a relentless attack by planes and
surface ships.