Evening star., 1942-03-29
St. Nuzuire
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dock on the continental Atlantic
coast capable Of accommodating
the 35,000-ton German battleship
Tirpitz.
Certainly tremendous damage was
caused by the explosion Of such a
quantity of explosives and with the
destruction inflicted by the Com
mandos the raid appeared highly
profitable one
The Campbeltown, built in 1919,
was obtained by Britain in the deal
for so United States destroyers in
exchange for Western Hemisphere
bases.
The latest hit-and-run smash at
Nazi coastal bases recalled the 1918
coup of Admiral Sir Roger Keyes,
for Is months this wars Commando
chieftain, in using a loaded" sub
marine to blow up a viaduct at
Zeebrugge on the Belgian coast
and sinking two concrete-laden
cruisers in the harbor entrance. As
result, zeebrugge, then one of
Germany's most important sub
marine bases, was blocked for many
months.
A similar success at today's stage
OF the war would be of great value
to the United States and British
Nayies which admittedly are hard
pressed and thin spread in their
efforts to make shipping lanes safe
in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian
Oceans.
Heavy Opposition.
The Commands admittedly ran
into heavy German opposition at
st. Nazaire and 1t apparently was
among these tough air and seaborne
fighters that the heaviest casualties
were inflicted.
The r. A. F. aided the operation
by diversionary bombings and Beau
fighters of the coastal command
covered the return trip.
Before the British gave their side
of the picture, the Germans
trumpeted to the world that the ex-
pedition had met with disaster.
Wait and see," said the British,
who explained that no detailed en-
nouncement would be issued until
their forces were safe home from
the hazardous return voyage of 270
miles across the western end of the
English Channel and around Brit
tany peninsula to the nearest Eng
lish ports on the Cornish coast.
Following up the daring attack
by the Commands. strong forces
of R. A. F. bombers and fighters
pounded at the invasion ports along
the coast Of France today and, In
the air battles which ensued, 13 Ger
man fighters were reported de-
stroyed for the loss of five British
planes.
The Germans threw up a thick
anti-aircraft barrage. which could
be seen from across the Channel.
But the R. A. F. flew on in at
between 10000 and 10000 feet. The
first flight returned in about 40
minutes.
Claims Not Repeated.
The Germans first two COM
muniques-issued in unusual in
tensity-said the destroyer was ex-
ploded by naval artillery fire be-
fore it could be rammed to its
goal; that fleet of 13 British motor
torpedo boats and torpedo boats was
sunk, the remaining naval units in
cluding destroyers routed by naval
and anti-aircraft fire and that those
forces which succeeded in getting
ashore were routed, annihilated, en-
circled or captured The Germans
specifically claimed more than 100
prisoners.
A third communique was issued by
Berlin and it was noteworthy that
1t did not repeat the earlier specific
sinking claims, nor did 1t mention
any such number as 100 prisoners
seized.
On the other hand, the first, So
word British communique stressed
that 1T was "a small raid and said
virtually nothing else. Moreover,
all day long stringent censorship
was apparent on the story.
(Reports originating from
Vichy said Canadian parachut-
lists, as well as Commands and
marines took part in the attack,
but senior officers in the Ca
madam department of national
defense said they had no such
information)
Appears Significant.
Despite the official attitude, the
choice of Brittany for this latest
commando raid, appeared significant
in view of the contention of many
second front" advocates that the
British could seize and hold a line
across that 100-mile wide peninsula.
A line from st. Nazaire on the
south coast of Brittany to st. MaIo
on the north would isolate many Of
Germany's most priced French air