Evening star., 1942-05-08
British Lose Cruiser
In Arctic Battle, but
Russia Gets Supplies
Germon Destroyer Sunk,
Another Damaged and
Three Bombers Downed

-
Another Damaged and
Three Bombers Downed
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, May S.-The 10.000-ton
British crusier Edinburgh was lost
last week in German submarine,
surface and air attacks on two Brit
ish conveys plying the vital Arctic
supply route to Russia, the Ad-
miralty announced last night, but
despite the severity OF the assaults,
spread over several days, the British
accomplished their mission with
relatively small loss among the
other naval and merchant vessels.
One attacking German destroyer
was sunk and another was hit and
severely damaged. and at least
three Nazi bombers were destroyed.
The Edinburgh was crippled by
enemy torpedoes and had to be
abandoned in tow and sunk by the
British themselves while she was
homeward bound with a convoy
which already had delivered its
goods. One conveyed vessel also
was sunk.
80 Per Cent Of Cargo Delivered.
The second convoy attacked was q
large string of ships carrying i'm
portant war supplies" to the bit
terly-contested Russia front. AL
though it was attacked by repeated
waves Of dive-bomberS and torpedo
carrying planes which sank three
ships, the British nevertheless sue
ceeded in delivering 80 per cent Of
their cargo, the Admiralty stated.
Assuming all Of the convoy ships
were of approximately the same size,
this would indicate that the convoy
originally was composed Of about
30 ships.
Casualties apparently were rela-
specifically so stated. Casualties
aboard the Edinburgh were men
toned.
Last night the German radio was
heard to announce that the Ger
man navy will soon strike q deadly
blow against the Soviet lifeline on
the Arctic 'front.'" but there was no
further indication Of exactly what
was planned.
The announcement and the per-
sistence Of last weeks attacks indi-
Gated a growing concern of the
Germans over the success Of the
Allies in using the Arctic route to
tanks and much other materiel has
flowed in a steady stream in recent
months, bolstering the fight against
the Nazis on their most vulnerable
front.
Importance Of Route Shown.
The use of such a large cruiser as
the 10,0O0-ton Edinburgh is evidence,
on the Allied side, Of the importance
attached to the Arctic route.
The attacks on the two conveys
began April 80 and lasted through
May 8. The homeward-bound con-
voy was struck first, a submarines
torpedo disabling the Edinburgh's
steering gear on the afternoon Of
April 80.
The Edinburgh was able to pro-
ceed under her own power, but at
speed reduced below her normal
32h knots. Thus slowed, she and
the convoy were attacked the fol-
lowing afternoon In stormy weather
by three destroyers which made I'VE
separate attempts to break through
the escort and destroy the convoy.
each one being beaten OF. It was
In this fighting that the one con-
voyed ship, which was In ballast,
went down. Seven men were killed
on two other ships.
On the morning Of May 2 the
crippled Edinburgh again was ac-
costed by three German destroyers,
apparently the same ones, in heavy
weather and low visibility. The
Edinburgh now was in tow, but she
and British destroyers Immediately
engaged the enemy, and this time
sank one of the Nazi destroyers and
severely damaged a second.
Cruiser Sunk by Own Forces.
During the fight, however, an
other torpedo hit the Edinburgh.
She was abandoned" said the Ad-
miralty, "and later had to be sunk
by our own forces. rs towing was no
longer practicable in the weather
conditions prevailing"
This convoy was not bothered
again.
The attack on the outward bound
convoy was begun on the afternoon
Of May l by six Junkers 88 dive
bombers striking suddenly from the
stormy sky. One OF them was shot
down. while the convoy and its
escort went unscathed.
On the evening of the following
day, however. six torpedo-carrying
planes attacked, and three of the
conveyed ships were struck by tor
pedoes and sank. In this assault one
Of the attackers was shot down.
A final attack came on the evening
Of May 3. This last thrust was un-
successful, causing only minor dam
age to one ship. One Junkers 88
was shot down.
This Arctic action presumably was
the same in which the German high
command three days ago announced
a 10 0,000-ton British cruiser had been
sunk. The Germans then claimed
that six conveyed ships totaling
37,500 tons also were sunk.
Benes Says Allied Troops