BIG CONVOY HARRIED

Evening Star, Issue 24103, 26 January 1942, Page 5

BIG CONVOY HARRIED

DAY AND NIGHT RAF. ATTACKS 20,000-TDN LINER DISAPPEARS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, Jan. 25. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: R.A.F. bomber and torpedo aircraft and naval torpedo aircraft carried out a series of determined and highly successful attacks on an enemy convoy consisting of a 20,000-ton ship, three large merchant vessels, one battleship, four cruisers, and 15 destroyers in the Central Mediterranean during January 23 and the night of January 23-24. In the first daylight attacks on January 23 bombs fell close to the battleship, which altered her course. The result of a torpedo attack could not be observed owing to evasive action. During the following night naval tor-pedo-carrying aircraft scored a hit amidships on the liner and on the stern of a destroyer, causing a violent explosion. R.A.F. aircraft continued the attack and dropped bombs which caused two violent explosions on the liner. Hits were also scored on the warships. It is thought that one of the cruisers and two of the merchantmen were also hit. The liner was later scon with clouds of smoke issuing from it, and one of the merchant vessels was afire. After the conovoy had been machinegunned from a low level naval aircraft resumed the attack, scoring two possible hits on the liner with torpedoes. Subsequent bombing attacks resulted in a number of near misses on merchantmen. On January 23 in daylight the convoy was sighted steering east at a much-reduced rate, but no trace was seen of the liner. During night operations aircraft also bombed Tripoli Harbour, causing a fire which was visible for many miles.

CONTINUOUS SWEEPS FIGHTER RAIDS IN THE DESERT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, January 25. In the battle area in Libya yesterday fighter aircraft maintained continuous offensive sweeps over the Jedabaya. Saunuu, and Mans areas. Two Ju 87’s, one Cr 42, and one Macchl 200 were destroyed and another enemy aim aft damaged. A concentration of enemy motor transport vehicles and tanks which were refuelling at Maatanen el Grara wore effectively machine-gunned, and one petrol trailer was set afire. During the night of January 22-23 our bomber aircraft raided store dumps, buildings, and other objectives at Buerat el Hsun. Enemy motorised units on the road near Sirte were also bombed. From these and other operations one of our aircraft is missing.. IN COMMISSION NEW BRITISH BATTLESHIP LONDON, Jan. 26. When Mr Churchill recently visited the United States he went on the Duke of York, Britain’s newest battleship. The release of this information in London was the first indication that the Duke of York was in commission. This battleship is a sister ship to the King George V. and the Prince of Wales. She was launched in "September, 1939. TYPHUS IN GERMANY BERLIN, January 24. The Ministry of Health fias announced that 126 cases of typhus have been reported among the civilian population in Germany and 138 cases in eastern occupied territories. It added that- there was no danger of a typhua epidemic. CARELESS TALK SOUTH AFRICAN PEOPLE WARNED (Rec. 12.40 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, Jan. 25. “ The public must avoid careless talk about the movements of shipping ui view of the vital importance of the South African ports at the'present stage of the war,” said Rear-Admiral Budgen, officer in charge of the naval base at Simonstown, in a broadcast. “ There is evidence of a constant leakage of information from South Africa which can be traced to irresponsible gossip.”-