SUNK BY GUNFIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 252, 1 August 1940, Page 6

SUNK BY GUNFIRE

ITALIAN CHARTERED VESSEL NECESSITY UNDER AIR ATTACK. CARRYING OIL AND FUEL. : (United Press Association .—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 31. , An Admiralty communique states: "The Conjmrtnder-in-Chief of theMediterranean Fleet reports that the Greek tanker Hermione, under charter to the Italian Government, carrying 300 tons of petrol and 200 tons of lubricating oil for the Italian forcess'7 W the Dodecanese Islands, was intercepted in the Aegean Sea by British naval forces on Sunday evening, soon after the character of the ship and the contraband nature of her cargo had been established.

“A heavy Italian air attack on our forces developed, and the commander of our forces was accordingly compelled to sink the Hermione by gunfire after the captain and crew had been removed. The weather was fine and the crew, who stated that they were in no need of assistance, proceeded in boats to the land, which was not far distant-.

“The air attack on our forces has presumably given rise to highly-colour-ed Italian reports of a battle between Italian aircraft and British warships, in which, it is claimed, several British warships sustained direct hits and severe damage. In fact, no damage or casualties were sustained by our forces —justification of the Italian report of the accuracy of the anti-aircraft fire of our ships.’’—British Official Wireless.