ITALIAN FLEET

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24051, 13 September 1943, Page 5

ITALIAN FLEET

Seventeen Warships Reach Malta (SfHERS KNOWN TO HAVE ESCAPED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Bee. 10.-10 p.m.) LONDON, September 12. The Algiers radio says that reports from the Mediterranean ghQW that 23 of the Italian navy’s 35 warships have reached Allied or neutral ports. Seventeen of these warships, including four battleships, had to run the gauntlet of German air attacks to reach Malta. The Italian naval units which arrived at Malta on Friday night included four battleships, seven cruisers, and six destroyers. Units of the fleet have also arrived at Palma, in Majorca, and according to an official Allied statement more Italian warships are expected to reach Malta and other Allied harbours.

Reuter’s correspondent at Valetta reports that the warships which arrived at Malta from Taranto included the battleships Andrea Doria and Giulio Cesare (each of 23,622 tons). Two battleships, one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser, and one destroyer which arrived at Malta came from Taranto, and two battleships, five cruisers, and five came from Spezia. All the units surrendered to the British Navy.

Reports from neutral sources say that the greater part of the Italian navy escaped from the Germans, but some ships at Trieste fell into German hands after hard fighting.

Allied headquarters confirm that the Italian battleship Roma was sunk by a German bombing attack. Twenty-five wounded sailors were landed at Majorca.

General Eisenhower has sent the following message to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham: “My congratulations tp you and all the forces under your command on the happy conclusion of your three years’ campaign against the Italian navy.” Reuter’s correspondent aboard H.M.S. Hambleton in the Mediterranean says: “Saturday marked one of the most spectacular periods in the history of the Royal Navy, for then Admiral Cunningham authorised the issue of this statement; ‘The Italian battle fleet is now anchored under the guns of Malta.’ “Admiral Cunningham with General Eisenhower on Friday stood on the compass plhtform on the bridge of this destroyer steaming along the North African coast and watched a four years’ task drawing to a close. Not since the German fleet steamed into Rcaph Flow at the end of the last war I \ the world seen such an event, a, Moving towards Malta in impresWc array were ships forming the d tkbone of the Italian Navy. There

but the Germans came in and stiffened them up. Release of Allied Units

“‘Now the whole Mediterranean is cleared it will release many ships for use against the Japanese and elsewhere. Also, these ships now added to our strength are first-class. The battleships are very good and the cruisers are all good, too, especially two new ones.’ “Admiral Cunningham, replying to a question, said: “There is only one Britisn officer on the Italian ships. He is on the leading cruiser to make sure they don’t take the wrong turning.’” Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says that Allied aeroplanes protected Italian warships making for Malta as soon as they were within range of long-range fighters.

The correspondent adds that the crew of a Royal Air Force Marauder watched a half-hour battle between the Luftwaffe and Italian warships between Corsica and Sardinia.

Battleship Sunk

There were tremendous explosions as bombs hit an Italian battleship, and smoke rose 4000 feet. The stern of the battleship sank under the water, the bows rose, and the battleship appeared to break in twp and fold up. Cruisers and destroyers circled the spreading oil patch, and picked up many survivors from the battleship. The Germans failed to secure any other hits. The warships put up a heavy barrage, and one German aeroplane fell out of control. Spitfires from Malta flew out and met the Italian battleships and cruisers and escorted them into Malta’s harbour. The Spitfires were led by Squadron Leader Wood, D.F.C. and Bar. of Vancouver, who fought in the Malta blitzes of 1942 against both Germans and Italians.

“We saw a line of ships,” said Squadron Leader Wood, “and when we got closer we found a little British destroyer was leading the Italians. We went down to look and flew past the ships. Some Italian sailors waved to us. When we reached the leading battleship we found the whole crew lined up on deck. They stood rigidly to attention as we passed and an officer on the bow saluted us.” At Gibraltar

were two battleships, five cruisers, and four destroyers sailing from Spezia on a course prescribed in the armistice terms. Each Italian ship flew a black pennant to show that she was complying with armistice terms. “In the van of the fleet were two mighty British battleships, the Warspite and Valiant, under a screen of six destroyers ahead and on either side of the long lines of battleships and cruisers. “It is evidence of Germany’s flatfooted surprise that she made a desperate daylight attempt to destroy the Italian Fleet'whose departure she was too late to forestall, but apart from sinking one ship—the Roma —she was unsuccessful. “Others Coming In” “Admiral Cunningham, when interviewed, said; ‘These are not the only Italian ships coming in. There are others from Taranto and other points on the east coast. Some already have reported at Malta and other places, and there are submarines popping up all over the place. The Italians are fulfilling our instructions to the letter.’ 1 “Turning to watch the Italian ships, Admiral Cunningham said: ‘We have met some of these twice before. I am glad to see the Warspite leading them in.’ Admiral Cunningham was referring to Taranto, where the Fleet Air Arm badly damaged one Italian battleship, and to Matapan, where another was badly damaged, and where the Warspite, which was then his flagship, ‘hit the Italian flagship in the stomach fit 25,000 yards.’ “Admiral Cunningham added: ‘This is a great day for us, and a very useful day. I always thought it might end something like this, although we would have been glad to see these ships any time in the last four years. The Mediterranean was black with ships in June, 1940, but we chased them home.

An earlier message said that two Italian light cruisers, two destroyers, and two auxiliary aircraft-carriers had arrived at Gibraltar and had surrendered to the Allies.

The Berlin radio says that German bombers and dive-bombers on Thursday prevented Italian warships from leaving Patras, in Greece, and forced them to return to harbour. One Italian torpedo boat escaped under cover of darkness. The commander of the Italian formation intended placing himself at the disposal of the British Mediterranean Fleet.

The Official German News Agency says that German bombers between Sardinia and Corsica on Thursday sank one Italian battleship and one cruiser, and severely damaged one battleship, one cruiser, and one destroyer. They belonged to an Italian naval formation which fled from Spezia, after which, on British-American orders, they attacked German shipping. German bombers immediately took off to protect German transport movements. Admiral Decourten, the Italian Navy Minister, in an order of the day to the Italian fleet, said: “It is possible that other hard tasks lie ahead of you. You faced the world’s most powerful Navy for 40 months and accomplished acts of heroism. The grave condition of Italy compels us ' lay down our arms in this struggle, but there may be tasks ahead which will impose on you a moral sacrifice.

“However, nothing is unbearable for you when the future of the country is at stake, and I am certahi that you will fulfil your duties in all circumstances.” The Berlin radio claims that units of the Italian navy have already joined the German navy to continue the fight against the Allies. The Berlin radio, quoting a message from Shanghai, said that the Italian liner Conte Verdi, the minesweeper Lepanto, and an Italian river gunboat were scuttled in the Whampo river, near Shanghai.

“ ‘Looking back on the whole battle, they were not so tough. The Italians were nearly gone at the end of 1940,

ESCAPING FROM * CAMPS”

SKILFUL GERMAN RETREAT

ALLIED PRISONERS IN ITALY

WARNING BY GENERAL MONTGOMERY

(Rec. 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 11. "It is a great mistake to underestimate the Germans," said General Montgomery in an interview on the mountainous coast of south Italy. Discussing Italy’s surrender General Montgomery said the Italians had ceased to be a fighting factor at the end of July when the Allies were still engaged in Sicily. “The Germans are conducting a skilful withdrawal from south Italy, fully exploiting demolitions and mines. The Bth Army is pursuing them on foot. The Bth Army has covered 100 miles in seven days which is fair marching for a soldier carrying a heavy pack. “I am sorry that the Australians who played a great part in knocking Italy out of the wai when Africa was the battlefield are not here to see its final phases, but the Canadians with me now are first class.”

300 SAID TO BE IN SWITZERLAND

(See. 10 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 12. u The Berne correspondent of the ‘New York Times” says that more man 300 British, American, French, a nd Dominions prisoners of war have crossed the frontier at Chiasso' from Imly. Prisoners said that they were the advanced guard of thousands more escaping, with Italian help, from the invading Germans. The Swiss Telegraphic Agendy says mat several thousand British. French, 2nd Greek prisoners have escaped from the camp at Bergamo and are now in the streets of Como, where the are expected at any hour. The Exchange Telegraph Agency’s correspondent in Zurich says that Marshal Kesselring. German Comman-«er-m-Chief in southern Italy, has been ordered to transfer all Allied war prisoners within reach from Italy to Germany.

Minister in the Middle •ast (Mr R. G. Casey) said that arC**ngements had already been made for ollt tllc 59,000 British prisoners, eluding Empire troops, in Italy, but Srtif tuna Jf ly most °f them were in “rthern Italy,