Italy's Navy Again Flees

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 236, 4 October 1940, Page 7

Italy's Navy Again Flees

ACTION EVADED

British Ships Scour Sea For Four Days In Vain

(British Official Wireless.—Ree. noon.)

RUGBY, October 3.

Chief.Tf l,M? t communique states that the Commander-in-Sce, efrane j n haS rep ° rted that the "aval forces under his command carried out a sweep of the eastern and central Mediterranean from September 29 to October 2 in the course of which additional military forces were landed at

During this period a strong enemy naval force was sighted by our reconnaissance aircraft. This enemy force was then 100 miles away from our. fleet and already steaming towards its base at high speed. It was, therefore, not possible to bring the enemy to action. .

Our fleet was attacked by enemy aircraft on three occasions during these operations. No damage was sustained by our ships in any of these attacks, but losses were inflicted on the enemy On the morning of September 29 an enemy aircraft was located shadowing our fleet. It was shot down by fighter aircraft. Later in the day a second enemy shadowing aircraft was shot down by the fleet fighters. Soon afterwards air attacks had developed, in the course of which one enemy aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. A fourth aircraft was shot down by the fleet fighters on October 1."