SHELLED BY NAVY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 7, 3 October 1941, Page 7

SHELLED BY NAVY

Italian E-Boat Base In Mediterranean SURPRISE ATTACK LONDON, October 1. British light naval forces in the Mediterranean paid a surprise visit to Italy’s E-boat base at Pantellaria, near Malta. Star-shells lit up the scene, and in five minutes 122 shells were poured into the target, which became a colonnade of smoke. The Italians did not reply till the British warships were well away, and not one shell came within a mile of any of them. The attack was carried out early on Sunday morning, and has just been described by an officer who arrived at Gibraltar.

Pantellaria is a small island with an area of 45 square miles, lying 62 miles south by west from the southwest extremity of Sicily, 44 miles east of the African coast and about 125 miles west by north of Malta. MANY FIRES CAUSED AT TRIPOLI Effective R.A.F. Raids (British Official Wireless.) (Received October 2, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, October 1One of the most effective raids yet carried' out on Tripoli was made by heavy bombers of the R.A.F. during the night of iSeptember 29-30, says an R.A.F. Middle East communique. Concentrations of parked motor transport were first attacked and set on fire. Subsequent bombing so increased the size and intensity of the fires that they could be seen clearly 100 miles away. In addition, direct hits were made on the aerodrome, railway station buildings and motor transport garages. Explosions and fires were caused at Gerbins and Comido, Sicily, where aerodromes were bombed and later ma-chine-gunned. During the latter operation enemy fighters were engaged, one being destroyed and others damaged. Benghazi was attacked during the same night. Shipping in the harbour was bombed and several hits were registered on a merchant vessel moored alongside the outer mole. During the day traffic on the coast road from Tripoli to Benghazi was attacked. Troops were machine-gunned and one bus full of troops was destroyed by a direct hit. Many bombs dropped in a motor transport park near S'irte. From these and other operations, including many reconnaissance flights and fighter patrols, one R.A.F. aircraft is missing.