Evening star., 1942-05-26
Sub Sunk by Planes
Off Brazil One Of
Several Attacked
Croft SisnuIed for Aid
When Set Upon by
United States Flyers
By the Associated Press.

RIO DE JANEIRO. Brazil. May
ga high source said today that
it was understood that more than
one submarine was attacked in the
battle near Fortaleza, on BrazilS
northeast coast three days ago, in
which one submarine supposedly
German" was sunk by several United
States planes.
The anti-submarine attacks by
United States forces were part of a
great activity of Brazil's northeast
coast, including an assault on an
other Brazilian merchantmen by
submarine and the expected arrival
of survivors from an unidentified
vessel.
AS a result Brazil increased her
defense preparations.
Authoritative sources at Forta-
leza said the sinking of the subma-
rine was confirmed by the appear
ance of large oil slick and wreck
age on the surface. They were un-
able to name the aviators, however,
or to give further details.
Sub Signalcd for Aid.
Earlier reports said the Subma-
rine signaled for aid when it first
was attacked by one United States
plane, joined later by at least three
others.
Although an authorized announce
ment at Fortaleza yesterday was
positive in stating that the sub
marine had been sunk, Brazilian
authorities here said they still
lacked official information and
United States authorities here de-
MED having the slightest conflrma-
ton of this report"
A high Brazilian source said II
was possible that the submarine
which was sunk was the same
raider which torpedoed without
sinking the Brazilian ship Com
mandante Lyra.
II doubt there is a submarine
supply base near here, but the
raiders must be receiving supplies
in some manner nearby, or they
would be unable to cruise the ship
ping lanes for long times as they
are now doing" said this informant.
These submarines undoubtedly pos
sess valuable and detailed intorma-
ton as to coastwlse Navigation ana
facilities.
At Recife the rescue ship Rio
1guazu, with survivors from an un-
identified ship variously reported to
number from 50 to 56, was expected
almost hourly.
Authorities were unable to con-
firm Axis broadcasts that the sur
yivors were from a United states
battleship of the Maryland class
which the Italians have claimed was
sunk by one of their submarines.
Towed to Port by U. S. Ship.
officials said United States au-
thorities had not communicated WIN
port officers, the usual procedure
when a vessel is arriving with united
States survivors, and expressed
doubt that the men aboard the Rlo
IguaZu were from a United states
ship. United States naval authorl-
ties said they had received no IN
structions on the matter.
The 5,O52-ton Commandante Lyra
formerly was the Southland OF
United States registry. An othclai
announcement last night said 1t was
torpedoed 1870 miles off the northeast
coast on May 18. The ship was
towed to port by United states
patrol vessel. ,
six Brazilian ships totaling 32.5l2
tons have been sunk by AXIS tor
pedoes since Brazil broke of rela-
tions with. Germany, italy and ia
pan. They were the Olinda' Cayru,
Buaroue, Arabutan, Parnahyoa ana
Cabedello.
Pushing defense plans, Air Min
lister Joaquin Salgado, IT,, mas re-
turned from Recife, where ne In
spected air bases on Brazil's exposed
eastern bulge. Recife police ar
rested 10 Germans and seized va
riety of equipment in raid on an
alleged spy ring headed by Hans
Sievert, manager of an importing
firm.
Fifth Column Blamed.
Capt. Severino Statero of the tor
pedoed Commandante Lyra, in an in
terview at Fortaleza, charged that
the attack on his ship was the re-
suit of fifth-column activity and
declared he had information OF such
gravity that he must reveal 1t only
to the Brazilian naval high COM
mand."
Adding that the submarine fired
on his vessel after torpedoing it,
he said:
The enemy not only knows the
route of our vessels, but even has
information of the cargo aboard and
where it is loaded I am certain OF
this because the submarine fired in
cendiary shells at the point below
the bridge where we were carrying
a Quantity of explosives, instead OF
firing at the hull in an attempt to
sink the vessel"
The ship soon was sheet of
flames and the crew left 1t in three
lifeboats. United States patrol
planes summoned an American war
ship, which put the crew back on