Evening star., 1942-04-09
Japanese Sink 7
British Cruisers
In Bengal Bay
LOO Crew Members
Saved; Landing on
Burmu Reported
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, April 9.-TWo British
S-inch-gun cruisers, the 10000
ton Cornwall and the 9,975-ton
Dorsetshire, whose torpedoes fin
ished off the German battleship
Bismarck little less than a year
ago, have been sunk by japanese
bombers ranging the Bay of
Bengal and battering at thin
stretched British naval commu-
nicationS to India, the Admiralty
announced today.
From New Delhi it was announced
also in communique that COM
bined enemy naval and air attacks
had resulted in the sinking of sew
eral Allied merchant ships in the
Indian Ocean area. The COM
munique said 400 to 500 survivors
had landed on the Orissa coast.
The shock of the loss of the two
powerful ships rubbed the gilt off
the Admiralty's announcement two
hours earlier that British subma-
rine had sent a 10,000-ton italian
cruiser to the bottom of the Central
Mediterranean.
The sinking of the Cornwall and
Dorsetshire was a blow to the Brit
ish naval strength Immediately
available to cope with japanese air.
craft carriers and warships reported
increasing their activities astride the
sea lanes to Calcutta in the bay
between the bombed coast of India
and invaded Burma.
Landing Also Reported.
Japanese broadcasts quoted i'm
perial headquarters claims that in
addition to the cruisers japanese
forces sank 81 Allied merchantmen
in the Bay of Bengal up to last
Tuesday, and badly damaged %
other ships.
Heard, too, but without any other
confirmation, was a Berlin broad
cast quoting dispatches, purportedly
from Toxic, that Japanese expedi-
tionary forces supported by cruisers
and destroyers landed last Sunday
on the Burma west coast and were
within 80 miles of the Bengal bor-
der of India. That would place them
between the border and the big
Burma port of Akyab.
Earlier roundabout reports that
the Japanese had forced their way
ashore at Akyab have been denied
by the British headquarters at New
Delhi.
1,1OO of Crew Saved.
The Admiralty's announcement
did not say when the Dorsetshire
and Cornwall were sunk.
There was no intimation what
other warships were operating with
the cruisers. The fact that 1.100
crew members were saved indicated
that other ships were on hand.
1T is known that more than 1,100
survivors, including the command
ing officers of both ships, have been
picked up" the Admiralty said.
The commanders were Capt. E. w
S. Agar of the Dorsetshire and
Capt. P. c. w. Mainwaring of the
Cornwall.
The Rome radio reported that the
remaining units of the British
squadron were engaged in a running
sea fight with stronger japanese
naval forces.
Observers here said survivors of
the cruiser sinkings might have been
taken to the naval station at Trim
GONZALEZ, target of renewed jap
anese air attack on Ceylon today.
Informed sources believed the
British Indian Ocean naval squad
ron probably was operating from
Trincomalee, or at least might have
made for the base to await rein
forcement after the smashing aerial
attack which cost the two cruisers.
Subs in Ganges Estuary.
Systematic japanese air recon-
Nuisance is being maintained over
the Bay of Bengal and, according
to the latest reports, japanese sub
marines are operating in the Ganges
Estuary.
Toxic authorities avoid mention
of an offensive against India and
state that these operations are being
carried out with the objective of Sc
curing the flank of the japanese
forces fighting in Burma.
Informed sources refused to COM
ment on Rome radio report that
a strong British naval formation
rounded the Cape of Good Hope
March 27 en- route to the Indian
Ocean.
The Daily Herald noted that
strong Japanese units had movec
into conquered Rangoon's harbor
Others were said to be at Port Blail
in the Andaman Islands, where
United States flying fortresses
bombed a cruiser last week.
Chinese Engaged in Burma.
Advices from Burma said Chinese
forces holding the eastern flank o1
the Allied line were heavily engaged
with japanese troops on the high.
way between Toungoo and Mauchi
A Chinese communique issued al
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