by Twenty-Four Messerchmidts Cruisers Reported ish Planes Unaccounted For Hit After Meeting London, Dec. 18.
Bremen at Sea aerial battle of the European War, Royal Air today shot twelve German Messerschmidt closely guarded Heligoland Bay, close to the an Air Ministry communique announced this of the British planes were "unaccounted for"
g to the same communique, which read in detail *A bomber formation of the Royal Air Force today area with the object of attacking any s found at sea. No warships were encountered met strong German fighter forces. A fierce unto and twelve Messerschmidts were shot down while n of our bombers are not accounted for at present."
The twelve Nazi fighters brought about heavy aerial fighting alleged to have taken place above the German base of Sylt this "The strenuous resistance offered to authoritative, London, Dec. 19.
The attack by a lone British submarine on a pocket-battleship, two battle cruisers and three cruisers, after sighting the German liner Bremen, is described in a statement issued by the Admiralty.
When the submarine came to perlscope depth to investigate she found the Bremen—which was heading for a German port after having taken refuge at Murmansk—steaming past fairly fast, but it was at once obvious the liner would pass well within torpedo range, the statement says. In fact, it is asserted, it would have been impossible for the captain of a submarine to have missed such a great target had he decided to fire at it, but the captain had definite orders from the Admiralty that the war at sea was to be conducted in strict accordance with international law.
The British submarine therefore set about carrying out the procedure required of it under international law. In spite of the fact that German aircraft were known to be in the vicinity, the submarine came to the surface and made a signal by daylight signalling lamp: "Stop immediately."
Bremen Ignores Signal the course of severe fighting, the skil and determination of British and crews, as well as the Germen accounts of the engagement. are regarded as an abortive attempt to minimise the severe loss of prestige they have suffered at sea and in the air during the last few days.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.