BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

england is fighting for her existence today the people of london have had to learn a new way of living during recent weeks the nightly air raids have increased in intensity when the raiders fly off they leave death and destruction behind as the flames leap high britain wonders will bombing be followed by invasion britain is on god confident that she can resist any landing attempt hitler has threatened a monster submarine warfare so these scenes of devastation terrifying as they are do not represent the number one peril england is confident that she can win as long as the lifeline from her colonies remains strong in canada the factories are busy turning out the material of battle for the mother country munition plants are making bullets for machine guns and for cannon britain depends upon the war effort of her great dominions she must have supplies from them and from the united states fiery forges of the modern vulcan are in action making guns the flying machines of war are needed most of all britain must get a vital part of her aircraft equipment from abroad war supplies which britain must have in a steady stream to continue the conflict against nazi germany they must go by ship these cargos mean the difference between victory and defeat the ocean is the new no-man's land of this war these ships set out bravely knowing that three thousand miles of danger lie ahead for protection the ships stay close to each other during the first part of their voyage they are escorted by the canadian air force and then the royal canadian navy takes over the job of guarding these ships and the precious war material they carry the safety of the ships depends upon the eyes of the convoy the planes dash away looking for the submarines which hide under the dark green water the atlantic patrol is in action 25 orders are given and precisely obeyed by naval units that have made convoying a science a branch of naval tactics with every mile that they steam towed europe the danger of submarines increases now the eyes of the convoy spot the periscope the order is given prepare for action in their attempt to cut the british supply line the nazis used three weapons surface raiders u-boats and bombing attack taught the american side of the atlantic the danger is most likely to be surface raiders armored cruisers or converted merchant vessels oh full speed ahead to the attack 37 knots more than 40 miles an hour as the destroyer charges repeater david 20 starboard 20 sir the depth charge that's the weapon used against u-boats 350 pounds of tnt is hurled from the destroyer the depth bomb explosion is so violent that any submerged u-boat in the vicinity must be sunk plowing on through the sea the convoy keeps its course eastward todd britain somewhere past the middle of the atlantic the british fleet is waiting for it taking over the task of escort british warships will do the convoying from here on the canadian warships returned home steaming back to port to pick up the next convoy the british warships are seen here in one of their most important jobs convoy system is held to be the best way of protecting merchant vessels the danger now is air attack we are approaching the british coast the ships hoist their barrage balloons their thick steel cables are a protection against dive bombers but the balloons are big targets nazi warplanes are swarming and the convoy is bombed from the sky the ships never faltered they moved steadily on the bombers press the attack british fighters take off to battle the bombers they come fast the anti-aircraft guns are barking and now the dog fights begin the nazi bombers protected by their own fighters continue to pour a reign of destruction on the convoy the guns of the convoy reply guns against bombs that one hurt the battle continues brave men are dying a nazi plane is shot down pilot bails out and goes floating down to the sea you'll be picked up by an english destroyer the attacking aerators are driven off so ends another episode in the most critical phase of the war the battle of the atlantic you