ITALY'S LOSSES AT SEA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 146, 2 April 1941, Page 5

ITALY'S LOSSES AT SEA.

TWO-THIRDS OF BATTLESHIPS

VERY HEAVY TOLL ON CRUISERS

LONDON, March 31

An estimate of Italy’s naval losses since she entered tho war was given by Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham when he returned to Alexandria. He said that Italy had lost two-thirds of her battleships, more than 50 per cent, of her 8-ineh gun cruisers, 25 per cent, of her 6-inch gun cruisers and destroyers, and between 20 and 30 per cent, of her submarines.

Newspaper correspondents asked Admiral Cunningham whether he thought the Italians went to sea under German control.

He replied that he knew Admiral Riccardi, the Chief of the Italian Naval Staff, who, lie- considered, was man enough to resist this; but Admiral Cunningham expressed the opinion that the Italians probably eamo out at German instigation. He added that the description given by the commander of the Lola (Captain Despisi) of the Littorio class battleship as the Vittorio Veneto might be a ruse. Admiral Cunningham thought it might easily he the Vittorio Veneto, but he recalled that she was heavily damaged at Taranto.

He added that in any event the ship would require at least three months for repairs even if she reached port. Admiral Cunningham told correspondents that seven 15-inch shells, simultaneously struck oue Italia m cruiser, -which completely . disintegrated, into one burst of flame. It was not a pleasant spectacle. It was not. known whether there wore any survivors.