ENEMY SHIPS ATTACKED

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23444, 26 September 1941, Page 7

ENEMY SHIPS ATTACKED

SUBMARINES ACTIVE IN MEDITERRANEAN

R.A.F. RAIDS ON AXIS PORTS

(U.P.A.) LONDON, September 24. British submarines in the central Mediterranean have accounted for a further five Axis vessels—two supply ships, one transport, a minelayer, and a large schooner. A submarine attacked the schooner while under fire from shore batteries. The British forces suffered neither casualties nor damage. An Admiralty communique states: “An Italian minelayer of the Crotone class has been torpedoed and probably destroyed by a submarine in the central Mediterranean. An enemy supply ship of about 5000 tons has also been successfully attacked and hit by a torpedo. A large schooner has been engaged by gunfire by one of our submarines. The schooner was certainly hit and damaged and probably sunk. No casualties or damage were suffered by the submarine. “One of our submarines patrolling in the central Mediterranean torpedoed an enemy transport and a supply ship of about 1500 tons. The supply ship is believed to have been sunk and the transport was later seen to be on fire.” Royal Air Force torpedo aircraft and heavy bombers are also maintaining the air offensive against Axis shipping in the Mediterranean and in the ports of North Africa. It is announced today that heavy raids were made on Benghazi and Tripoli. Two large enemy vessels were hit with torpedoes, and heavy bombers are reported to have damaged others. ~. . An earlier announcement relating to a raid by heavy bombers stated that five other ships had been hit and damreport states that British air patrols discovered an enemy cqnvoy proceeding along the Norwegian coast. Bombers were brought over, and in the subsequent attack one large enemy supply ship was sunk.

FRENCH VESSEL SUNK

CARGO SHIP BOMBED OFF SFAX VICHY PROTESTS TO BRITAIN (Received September 25, 11.30 p.m.) VICHY, September 24. It is officially stated that the Vichy Government has protested to Britain against the sinking of the French cargo ship, Monselet (3372 tons), by bombs on September 20, off the Tunisian coast shortly after the vessel had left Sfax. , , The crew of the vessel was saved. The Bremen radio has announced that the Norwegian motor-ship Segundo, with a cargo of war material for England from America, was sunk in the North Atlantic.

BRITISH MISSION IN ABYSSINIA

Leader’s Story Of Adventures PATRIOTS STIRRED TO REVOLT (8.0. W.) RUGBY, September 24. Brigadier D. A. Sandford told a story comparable to the adventures of Lawrence of Arabia when describing the work of the British Military Mission which he led in the early days of the Abyssinian campaign. The Italians had never been able to complete the pacification of the country. The most important centre of disturbance was the Gojjam area, under Ras Araba Argi. near Lake Tsana in the west of the country. The Abyssinian patriots, who had been struggling for four years against the Italians, were, however, growing tired and at the same time Britain followed a policy of giving no offence to Italy until that country actually entered the war. The mission consisted of Brigadier Sandford, Captain R. Critchley, Lieutenant Drew, R.A.M.C., and Signallers Grey and Whitmore. Their first purpose was to spread revolt, but not too quickly. Contact had to be made with the leaders, and assistance arranged as well as operations co-ordinated. With the Emperor’s representative} Azazh Kahada. and 50 muleteers and mules they crossed the frontier on August 12, 1940. The Italians knew they were coming and they had started in the middle of the rainy season, at the time when the Italians had been gaining successes on British frontiers and France had signed an armistice. So conditions were not too favourable. Eight major rivers in flood had to be crossed, as well as innumerable small streams, and the weather was terribly hot, Brigadier Sandford and Captain Critchley pushed on. not using any regular tracks. They had 2000 Maria Theresa dollars, worth less than £2OO and were able to borrow 2500 more in the country. An Italian colonel named Torelli, with the best part of a brigade, appeared on the morning the British mission arrived among the assembled patriots and when they had just read the Emperor’s proclamation. They decamped and hid in a cave while the Italians dropped bombs from the cliff above. No harm was done and when eventually Colonel Torelli brought forward mechanised forces the patriots were ready for them. Brigadier Sandford made a forced march over mountains 4000 feet high to start further trouble in the west, and the Italians were unable to make effective opposition. In January, 1941, the Emperor himself arrived in Abyssinia and Brigadier Sandford became his military and political adviser.

IMPORTS FROM U.S.

AUSTRALIA TO FORGO SOME MATERIALS (Received September 25, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON. September 24. The Australian Minister in Washnigton (Mr R. G. Casey) conferred with the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) to-day. They discussed the general world situation. Mr Casey said Australia would forgo for the present some of the materials she had arranged to import from the United States so that areas in the greatest need could obtain their requirements promptly. ,Of these, Russia was foremost. The goods mentiond included aeroplanes, petroleum, aluminium, and machine tools.