Evening star., 1942-02-15
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb. 14.-The Admiral
ty issued this press statement to-
night concerning Thursdays Dover
Strait engagement Dith the German
naval squadron:
Further details can now be given
Of the Navy's part in intercepting
and damaging the enemy force in
the Channel battle.
The enemy was first identified
and reported at the western en-
trance to Dover Straits at 11:35.
The first striking force of six
Swordfsh aircraft was at once Or
dered to take off from shore air.
drome to attack.
This striking force was led by
1t. Comdr. E. Esmonde, D. S. O.
1t. Comdr. Esmonde and the
crews of his Swordfish knew very
we'll that the task of attacking
the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and
Prinz Eugen was very different
from attacking even a very heavily
armed ship on the high seas. The
German ships were hugging the
coast of enemy territory very
closely. They were covered by an
umbrella of hundreds OF shore
based fighters, all of them having
more than twice the speed and
maneuverability of the SWordash
carrying torpedo.
Moreover, enemy ships were pass
ing in succession airdromes and
landing grounds from which tighter
escorts could be reinforced at a
moments notice If the crews of
the Swordish ever thought OF the
odds against them the thought
certainly did not deter them.
They knew they were flying air
craft very vulnerable to fighters
thev were bound to meet. They knew
they were about to attack a naval
SQUADRON which was capable OF
putting UP a tremendous volume OF
anti-aircraft fire, but they knew
also the task was to press home the
attack and score hits with torpedoes
on the enemy.
Pressed Home Attacks.
They had to contend with bad
weather as we'll as the enemy, but
thev found targets and pressed
home their attacks. Exactly "hat
happened in the closing stages OF
fhe attack is not certain but con-
ditions were such that it was almost
impossible for anybody to observe
with certainty whether or not the
enemy ships were hit.
Fighters of the r. A. F.. engag-
ing enemy aircraft high overhead
reported explosions and flashes
which they considered to be one
certain and two possible hits with
torpedoes. -,
Crews of the fighters speak OF
having seen the Swordfish dive down
almost to sea level, and press nome
their attacks regardless OF all'op-
nosition. But not one Of those six
Swordfish came back. Only five men
from the crews were subsequently
saved by our light craft.
Meanwhile, all available motor
tornedo boats In the Dover area had
nut to sea at full speed despite the
fact that the weather was by no
means suitable for these small, fast
craft.
It was nearly half past II when
the first of the motor torpedo boats
sighted the first of the enemy heavy
ships. The enemys main units were
heavily screened by destroyers and
E-boats.
As our motor torpedo boats went
into attack they were engaged by
very heavy fire and they also were
engaged by German aircraft who
dived on them continually, flrlng
machine guns and cannons.. The
motor torpedo boats held on until 1t
was obvious unless they fired
through their torpedoes at once,
their opportunity would be gone.
Thus they carried out their attacks
and fired their torpedoes, refusing
to be deferred by enemy aircraft or
enemy shell fire or by the fact that
the enemy's escorts were laying
smoke screens to try and shield
their heavy ships.
All Return to HarbOr.
Again it was impossible to tell
what hits had been scored on the
enemy. The wonder is that the
motor torpedo boats were able to
disengage themselves successfully.
Every one of them returned to
harbor.
While Swordfiish and motor tor
pedo boats were attacking the enemy
in the Straits of Dover, destroyers
In the North Sea were steaming to