CONVOY BATTLE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23717, 15 August 1942, Page 5

CONVOY BATTLE

EXAGGERATED ENEMY CLAIMS

ACTION BELIEVED TO BE CONTINUING

(Received August 14, 10.50 p.m.) (N.Z.P.A.) LONDON. August 13. It: is authoritatively staled that enemy claims regarding the Mediterranean convoy battle are exaggerated. The action is believed to be still progressing. The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper, "Dagligl Allehancla,” reports that the convoy has apparently passed Sicily and at least part of the convoy has successfully negotiated the most difficult stretch. A special Italian communique largely repeats German claims. It says that the Italian navy sank one cruiser and three ships and admits the loss of 13 aeroplanes. The enemy claim heavy losses, but in London it is pointed out that the enemy reports are no more accurate than usual. It is expected that there will be losses on both sides, but, following the usual policy, no publicity is being given to the action until the operation is concluded. The Vichy radio quotes a message from Algeciras stating that an aircraftcarrier of the Glorious type, H.M.S. Argus, and four destroyers have entered Gibraltar, where there is exceptional activity of ships and aeroplanes. Tolling of the end of the aircraftcarrier Eagle the Exchange Telegraph war correspondent, Mr Arthur Thorpe, “About 1 a.m. there were two tremendous crashes and two more after a few minutes. The ship heeled crazily and six-inch shells weighing 1001b were torn from the brackets and dumped across the dock. Sailors flung themselves overboard to escape the shells. I also went over and clung to a cork floatnet on which there were six sailors, one of whom had a broken “While the Eagle was lying on her side men swarmed ant-like over her great red underside. Then she sank with a thunderous rumble in thrashing foam. A destroyer soon picked us up. The commander, Captain Macintosh, was also picked up from the floatnet.” , . . _ , Mr Thorpe survived the Ark Koyai sinking.