Evening star., 1944-01-03
By the Associated Press.

A BRITISH NORTHERN NAVAL
BASE, Jan. 3.-A daring attack and
pursuit by three British cruisers
and an audacious torpedo onslaught
by four destroyers at range Of less
than one mile were given high
credit by Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser
yesterday for the December 26 de-
struction of the German battleship
Scharnhorst under the big guns of
the British battleship Duke of York.
The entire action was fought in
the Arctic night above North Cape,
Norway, Admiral Fraser said in
writing ou his own account Of the
battle for Arthur Oakeshott, Reuters
correspondent with the Home Fleet.
The Duke of York, the cruiser Nor
folk and the destroyer Saumarez
suffered minor damage from the
Steamboats, shells, he stated.
The Home Fleet commanders
calm. matter = of fact narrative,
which did not mention the presence
of any other German ships, Is as
follows:
Aat 0800 g a.m.) on December 26
the Duke of York, Admiral Fraser's
flagship, with H. M. Cruiser Jamaica
astern and the destroyers Savage,
Saumarez, Scorpion and the Nor
wegian destroyer Stord acting as
anti-submarine screen, was some
way to the westward of the eventual
scene of battle, steering to the east
ward.
Twilight at Midday.
The weather during the previous
night had been extremely bad and
few people. even in the battleship,
had had much sleep. There is no
daylight in these latitudes, though
there is a period of twilight in the
middle Of the day. The whole of
the main action, which started in
late afternoon, was therefore fought
In the dark.
Vice Admiral r. L. Burnett with
the force Of cruisers was at this time
to the southwark of the Russia
bound convoy, which was in the lati-
tude of Bear Island. He himself was
on the Belfast, with the Norfolk and
Shef1eld in company. The convoy
was escorted by destroyers and cor
vettes.
About 0930 Admiral Burnett
sighted the Scharnhorst at long
range, steering toward the convoy
Speed was increased to ~ knots and
all three cruisers opened fire, the
Norfolk obtaining a hit.
This engagement lasted until 1890,
when touch with the enemy was lost
due to her superior speed in the
weather conditions prevailing. She
was last seen steering OF to the
northeast, having been driven of
from the convoy by the determined
attack Of Admiral Burnett and his
cruisers.
During this time my force still
was many miles to the westward
proceeding at speed with the inten-
ton of getting between the Scharn-
horst and her base at Alterfjord.
Raced Back to Aid Convoy.
Admiral Burnett, who was Joined
by the destroyers Musketeer, Match
less, Opportune and Virago from the
convoy escort, now raced back to
support the convoy in case the enc
my should attempt another attack
on it.
About 1880 the expected happened,
and the enemy reappeared from the
westward, making toward the con-
Voy. The cruisers, which were sta
toned ahead of it, opened fire, as
did the enemy, obtaining a hit on
the Norfolk, killing one oficer and
six ratings and seriously injuring
another six.
The Scharnhorst now fed to the
southwark, with the cruisers in close
pursuit. The pursuit to southwark
lasted all afternoon. Admiral Bur-
nett had fleeting glimpses of the
enemy and was able to keep me in
formed of the enemy's movements,
my force coming up from the west
and to the south of Burnett.
From this invaluable information
I was able to decide a course on
which must steer to intercept the
Scharnhorst before she got too near
her base.
The stage now was set for the
main action, the Scharnhorst being
pursued by the cruiser force with
dogged persistence and the Duke of
York making all speed to intercept
to maximum advantage.
Illuminated With Star Shell.
During this flight the enemy al
tered course slightly, which enabled
me to engage little earlier than I
had expected. 1t actually was at
1649 (4:49 p.m) that the Duke of
York, having turned to southwark,
parallel to the Scharnhorst, illumi-
mated her with a star shell at a
range of just under six miles.
At 1850 (4:50 pm) the Duke of
York opened fire with broadside