The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-02-13
by EDWARD W. BEATTIE
Omitted Press staff COrrespOndentj


Londor, Feb 10 up British
pilots officially reported today that
three or four torpedoes struck home
against the German battle fleet that
escaped homeWard through the
Dover strait and that a big explosion
was seen around one of the 26,00G-
con enemy battleships Scharnhorst
md GneiSer au
British aircraft and warships stilJ
searched the North Sea for Grip
pied enemy vessels, but naval
sources acknowledged that the
greater part Of the squadron must
have reached the safety of EmGen,
IN t1e German coast or a Helgoland
bay port.
Tic successful dash Of the strong
snemy Warship force from Brest
through the Dover strait despite a
lve-hour British air and sea attack
touched off a blast CT criticism OF
The cabinet of Prime Mir lister VIM
ston Churchill and raised the threat
hat powerful German surface raid
srs might soon be turned loose again
~ on Inc DIT I1IlIlG ElllI)l)lllR.
Surprise Dash Successful
The surprise dash for safety
largely was successful and may be
OF tremendous Importance In the
struggle for sea power in both the
Atlantic and Pacific, but British
pilots expressed confidence they had
Strucl; damaging blows.
THE pilots of one of the squad
rem cScorting our torpedo bombers
reported seeing what appeared to be
t2Ipcdoes striking one Of the battle
SHIPS and saw an explosion around
the ship the air ministry an
ncunccd
THE coastal command Beaufort
squadrons claimed three torpedo
hits."
The statement did not specify
what ships the Beaulorts hit but
it Gid tell or direct hits with $50
POUND bombs on q 500-ton enemy
ship which broke in two and sank
and on a smaller ship which was
left aflamc.
The German l0-000-ton cruiser
Prinz Eu9cn and other strong air
and sea escort forces protected the
enemy battleshipS during their dash
through the channel at time when
poor visibility interfered seriously
with the British attack.
Naval quarters admitted shortly
before noon q a. M, EWT) that the
greater part Of the German fleet at
least. probably had reached the
safety Of Emden, just on the other
side Of the Dutch frontier, or a port
IN Halgoldnd Bay.
II was disclosed only today that, as
a screen TO divert and confuse British
air and naval forces, a fleet Of Ger
man bombing planes had made the
heaviest daylight attack in many
months on the British east coast
yesterday as German WarShips were
approaching the Dover Strait.
When last sighted at dark yestcr-
day the German ships had scattered
under the British attack but they
We're nearing" He.2Cland even
then, It was admitted with prob
ably not more than $50 miles to 90
Now the sole hope OF catching
them lay IN the possibility that some
had been 50 badly damaged by the
ferocious and costly attack Of Brit
iSh planes, Warships and coastal
guns that their speed had been
materially reduced.
The British attacked with every
thing they had including Canadian
air force planes which few into the
deadliest area Of the battle.
But the communigue OF the admir-
atty and air ministry claimed only
probably and possible hits by gun
fire, torpedCeS and aerial bombs and
the British lost AZ planes against
10 which, 1t was said, the Germans
lost.
The independent conservative
Evening News opened the attack
on Churchill, the most vigorous
press criticism Of his prime minis
try.
There is no use in Mr.. Church
Iii standing up, half defiantly and
half in a white sheet borrowed from
Lord Baldwin Ga former "muddle
through" PREMIER and saying I'm
the man TO blame and doing moth
ing TO improve machinery Or
methods"
Endless Chain Of Disasters
Reviewing bitterly an endless
chain" Of British disasters, the
Evening News attacked the govern
ment and the chiefs Of the fighting
services.
mo doubt we shall get the usual
soothing explanation" it said. ut
will be urged on us that although
we are taking it we shall do q lot
better in l943 and really magnifi-
Gently in 1914. But mlscalculationS
have piled up too mountainously to
be dismissed with a flourish OF
words"
N-'i informed quarters reported