BRITISH NAVAL SWEEP

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 9, 5 October 1940, Page 11

BRITISH NAVAL SWEEP

Eastern And Central Mediterranean ENEMY FORCE FLEES

H.M. Ships Undamaged By Air Attacks (British Olliei.-il Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. Au Admiralty communique Mates that the. Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean reported that the naval 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 Malta.

During tiie period a strong enemy naval force was sighted by our reconnaissance' aircraft. This enemy force was then 100 miles away trom the British Fleet and already steaming toward 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,” says the communique. "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 lighter aircraft. Later in the day' a second enemy shadowing aircraft was shot down' by Fleet, fighters. Soon afterward air attacks developed, in Hie course of which one enemy aircraft was sltot down by anti-aircraft fire. A fourth aircraft was shot, down by Fleet fighters on October 1.”

U-BOATS SUNK

Seven In The Last Few Weeks LONDON, October -I. An Admiralty communique Htis morning says that in Hie last lew weeks units of the British Navy sank seven German U-boats and two Italian and damaged others. The communique adds that attacks by U-boats against, merchant shipping have been more successful lately titan in the earlier stages of Hie war. This was to be expected after Hie collapse of France, as Hie German submarines operating from the newly-occupied French ports were able to spend longer periods al sea. Tiie communique added that the British submarine Osaris torpedoed and sank an Italian destroyer in Hie Adriatic on .September 22. Two weeks earlier tiie Osaris sank an Italian supply ship of 3000

DICTATORS TO MEET

Hitler And Mussolini On Way To Brenner Pass LONDON. October 3. 11 is reported, both in Rome tiltd in Berlin, that. Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini are to meet at Hie Breitner Bass tomorrow. Herr von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister. Ims left Berlin, and it. is reported Hint Mussolini and Hitler are on their way to the Brenner Pass.

Settor Sutler, the Spanish Minister of lite interior, is still in Rome, and it is now said that, li "ill not leave before tomorrow. Ho saw Count. (,'iatto, the Italian Forigii Minister, yesterday, aud had been expected to see Signor Mussolini again, but this interview apparently never came off.

SPANISH BOLE Announcement Expected At Weekend i Received October 4. 11.55 p.m.) LONDON. October 3. "The Times'’ correspondent on the Italian frontier says well-informed circles in Rome state that the Spanish Minister, Senor Simer, exhaustively discussed tiie possibility of allowing Italian and German troops free passage across Spain in order Io attack Gibraltar. It is expected that Spain's role in the conflict will he auno'illtecd at tile weekend. From Signor Gaytia's comment it is assumed Hint Spain will at present remain non-lielligerent. though she Inis ohvimisl yagreed to closer economic co-operation with tiie Axis.

A.I.F. TRO'OPS IN EGYPT

Move To Forward Positions ( Received October I, 9.5 p.m.t MELBOURNE. October -I. The Minister for the Army. Senator Mcßride. today staled that. followiiiZ 12 moiillis' Iriiiiiiug in Australia .'Hi'! 11 *e Middle East Hie A.I.E. I roups were moving into forward positions' i'i Egypt ns :i well-equipped mechanized and disciplined unit. He described them its a formidable body full of enthusiasm for the task abend.

ATTACKS BY R.A.F. Water Tanks Damaged 'Received October 4, 10.-15 p.m. i CAIRO. October 4. An R.A.F. communique States: "We damaged water storage tanks nt Buqbuq and raised large columns of black smoke and sent down a tighter at Maiadaga. One of our bombers crashed in Hames.”

ITA LI AN COM M UN I QU E LONDON. October 3. Au Italian communique reports: "The enemy raided Gltra and caused neither damage nor casualties. Other raids on Elwnk, Buna mid Assttb caused altogether three to he killed and nine injured. There was insignificant material damage."

GREEKS ON ALBANIAN FRONTIER

Italian Moves Countered LONDON. October 3. The AI hen-: correspondent of the British United Press reports I hat Greek troops have been moved up to the Albanian frontier after heavy Italian moyemeuta near the frontier.