Smashing Blow Struck At Axis Shipping

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13014, 4 December 1942, Page 5

Smashing Blow Struck At Axis Shipping

TRO us attempt to reinforce troops IN NORTH AFRICA

oY ATTACKED IN MEDITERRANEAN BY Co> BRITISH NAVAL FORCES

• VESSELS, INCLUDING TWO DESTROYERS, SUNK IN LIVELY ACTION

London, Dec. 3. ~ nava ] forces in the Mediterranean have struck a smashi at Axis ships endeavouring to reinforce the enemy in IS{ ILca Four enemy -ships in a convoy bound for Tunis and of the escorting destroyers were all sunk. main headlines from the North African battle zone tained in an Admiralty communique, just issued, which * co " es an other heavy blow against Axis shipping in the Middle

enemy convoy was spotted by our air reconnaissance i line at full speed for Tunis. Vi darkness fell the Royal Navy poured on the Axis ships. force consisted of three cruisers and two destroyers and a r | action followed in which six of the enemy vessels went to the Sao During the action our own ships suffered neither casualty nor damage. .. . Later however, as they were returning to their base our ships •e attacked by enemy dive bombers and torpedo bombers. The ftroyer Quentin was hit and later sank. It is reported that most f her crew were rescued. There is little fresh news from the Tunisian front. The British Ist Army is encountering increasing resistance as it closes in on the main enemy strongholds at Tunis and Bizerta and this was to be expected. _ ' The enemy near Teburba is putting up what is described as an exceedingly tough fight, . ■ Our men mopping up in the Djedida area are being sniped by

1 Heavy fighting is going on at Pont du Salis about 30 miles south-west of Tunis. , i. i Further Axis losses at sea include a large enemy tanker which ms torpedoed off the south coast of Sicily and set ablaze. Our planes have made further attacks on Bizerta and Tunis.