Referring to Allied victories, the British statesman continued: The House can be fully assured that I have done my best to verify the following statement: The German battle-cruiser Scharnhorst has been damaged in an engagement with the Renown, while our Norwegian allies report that another enemy battle-cruiser, the Gneisenau, has been sunk.
"In addition the Admiral Scheer was hit by the torpedoes of one of our submarines, and we have every reason to believe that she was at least seriously damaged. The enemy themselves admit the loss of two cruisers, while hits were also scored on two other cruisers by aircraft of the RAF. and the fleet air arm, and there is every reason to believe that they. were sunk. Another cruiser was reported sunk by the Norwegian, and at least eight enemy destroyers have been sunk and others damaged."
With regard to the success of British submarines, Lord Hankey recalled the text of a recent Admiralty communique, which stated: "Although no sinkings have been published, it would be incorrect to assume that no positive results have been obtained."—Havas.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Ghamberlain, announced in the House of Commons today that Sir Walter. Monckton has been appointed Deputy Dierctor-General of the Ministry of Information. He also will be an additional Deputy Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, The changes will take effect immediately.
In the light of experience, Mr, Chamberlain said, it has been decided that the Ministry of Information should resume functions at present performed by the Press and Censorship Buteau, To strengthen liaison between the service departments and the Ministry and to ensure the Ministry's point of view being adequately presented, the number of senior service officers attached to the Ministry was being increased and representatives of the Ministry were being attached to the service departments, Mr. Chamberlain explained that Sir Walter Monckton's appointment as Deputy Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs was made to provide necessary collaboration between the foreign division of the Ministry, which is responsible for the publicity in neutral countries, and the Department of Enemy Propaganda under the Foreign Office.
The Department of Postal and Telegraphic Censorship, formerly under the War Office, is being transferred forthwith to the Ministry of Information.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.