The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-30
.Nozis Report
On Seq Fight
(NEA Telephoto)
CONTINUED from Page u

circles in Berlin blamed the sink
ing of the Scharnhorst on Doneitz's
lack of understanding of sea
strategy.
Doenitz was ordered to report
personally to Adolf Hitler the events
leading to the loss of the Scharn-
horst, Exchange Telegraph said. He
originally was put at the head of
the German navy to organize a
ruthless submarine campaign which
was defeated by Allied Warships and
| planes.
An unconfirmed report from the
Swedish Norwegian border said two
German destroyerS and U-boat
believed to have been damaged dur
ing the Scharnhorst engagement,
had been towed into Harstad, on
the northwest coast of Norway
above Narvik, for repairs.
Both President Roosevelt and
Premier Marshal Josef Stain sent
messages of congratulations to
Prime Minister Churchill on the
sinking of the Scharnhorst.
1.-The sinking of the Scharnhorst
has been great news to us ALL" Mr..
Roosevelt said. Congratulations to
the home f1eetl'
Il send you personally, and also
to Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser and
the valiant sailors of the Duke of
York, ny congratulations on this
splendid blow, the sinking of the
German battleship Scharnhorst,"
Stain cabled.
U. S. Plane
Further details of the first two
days of the battle of Biscay, re-
leased by the Admiralty and Air
Ministry last night, disclosed that
1t was U. s. Navy Liberator pilot
ed by Lieutenant S. D. johnson of
fredericksburg, Penn, which first
sighted a formation Of II German
destroyers Tuesday heading for a
rendezvous with the blockade run
ner, en- route from Japan with q
rich cargo of contraband.
Unknown to the German destroy
ers, the blockade runner already
had been sunk by British coastal
command planes Monday.
johnson summoned the British
Cruisers Glasgow and Enterprise to
the scene and Swallowed the des-
troyers despite fierce anti-aircraft
fire.
Another U. S. Navy Liberator, pi-
loted by Lieutenant r. G.. Quinlan
(home address unavailable) scored
straddle near misses on one des-
troyer later Tuesday, but the plane
was damaged and the rear gunner
was wounded by anti-aircraft fire.
The only other Allied casualties
Monday and Tuesday comprised
minor damage to the Glasgow and
Enterprise and the loss of two Brit
iSh planes, o Halifax and a Beau
fighter.
London, Dec. 30 CUP - Nazi
sources reported today that German
submarines had sunk five British
destroyers in the naval-air battle in
the Bay of Biscay, and said fighting
still was continuing last night.
CThe Nazi Paris radio, in broad
cast reported by U. S. government
monitors, said today that naval OPP
erations are at present going on in
the Bay Of Biscay between Anglo
American and German forces" but
the aim Of the operations was mot
clear').
The German DNB news agency
said the destroyers were sunk in adj
d1tion to the damaging Of the British
cruisers Glasgow and Enterprise,
which British communicate yes
terday listed as the only Allied ship
casualties.
One German destroyer and two
, torpedo boats were lost, DNB adj
mitted, although part of the crews
were rescued.
The British communique told Of
the sinking of three German de-
Stroyers and a blockade-runner and
the damaging of several other de-
stroyers Monday and Tuesday.
German broadcasts asserted the
battle continued at least until last
night. implying that U-boats inter-
vened after the two-day period COW
cred by the British announcement.
The Nazi-controlled Scandinavian
Telegraph Bureau said German de-
stroyers and torpedo boats also
engaged British warships, mainly
light forces" and q considerable
number Of planes in the later stages
OF the battle.