BRITISH SUBMARINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 May 1943, Page 5

BRITISH SUBMARINES

MEDITERRANEAN ACTIVITY SEVERAL SHIPS SUNK RUGBY, May 18. The Admiralty announces: From end to end of the Mediterranean, British submarines continued to attack, destroy or damage enemy shipping, and harass even his insnore communications. While patrolling on the north coast of Sicily, a submarine torpedoed an Italian destroyer, which was seen sinking. Near Palermo, a torpedo attack was made on a large supply ship, proceeding under a strong escort oi destroyers. A heavy explosion followed by counter-measures by escorts, prevented the submarine observing the full results of the attack. An hour later the destroyers were seen searching in the vicinity, but there was no sign of the target. In the same area, a supply ship of medium size and one smaller were torpedoed. The smaller ship was seen to sink. , In the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Southern Greece, a British submarine sank a small supply ship by gunfire. A submarine chaser. o.L the Albatross class also engaged with gunfire, five hits being registered before the action was broken off Off Asmara Islands, Northern Sardinia, a British submarine destroyed two small supply ships, then penetrated the harbour off Porto Torres,! to torpedo and sink a supply ship of medium size. . . During a running fight in the Western Msditerarnean, another British submarine shelled an. Italian supply ship, scoring several hits. The action was broken off when the enemy ran for refuge into Spanish; territorial waters. The submarines, which carried out successful operations, were commanded by Lieutenants R. B. L. Akin, E. J. B. Turner, J. R. Drummond, B. J. ,P. Andrews, J. Whitton and M. B. St. John.

AERIAL VICTIMS. LONDON, May 18. It is officially announced in Algiers that the Allied air forces between November 8 and May 13 sank 71 Axis vessels, probably sank 103. and damaged 120. I TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN LESSONS OF LAND FIGHTING. ~RUGBY, May 18. Details are gradually coming to hand of the difficulties which were faced by the Allied forces in what a correspondent calls the “European war school of Tunisia.” and of how they victoriously overcame them. The troops who landed in Eastern Algeria in November were weaker than was generally supposed. They had to hold about 50 miles of mountain country with hardly any air protection, and the operations were handicapped by the rainsoaked ground. Operations had to be undertaken with sufficient strength against an enemy who could reinforce more easily, and the results were often unsatisfactory. Much valuable tank experience was obtained. The armour of both sides suffered through the bogged ground. In the Christmas attack qn Longstop Hill a British tank division narrowly avoided being disastrously bogged, and when the Germans attacked down the narrow valley from Mateur towards Beja, in March, their tanks could not leave the road and consequently were slaughtered by our gunners, and the enemy suffered a crippling blow. Much was lharnt about hill fighting against an enemy who masters that branch ol warfare. When the Allies recovered Sedjenane Valley at the end of March they won .back‘in five days hilly country which the Germans had not long before taken in thrge weeks of the bitterest fighting. In their final model offensive the Allies chose one vital objective and struck with all their strength instead of dissipating their forces. The Allied forces had by then been grounded nationally to obviate .difficulties due to differences of tradition, methold, and language. The smallest national unit became a corps so that co-operation was strategic rather than tactical. Despatches state that the Americans, who had the most to learn, learned astonishingly quickly. An account of the Fondouk breakthrough by the 6th Armoured Divisions reveals that,. forsaking, their usual precautions owing to ihe nocessitv for speed, about 30 tanks rushed a minefield in a gap between the hills, the exploding mines letting the rest of the tanks through. All 30 had their tracks destroyed, but two-thirds were running again in a few days. The differences between the early disappointments and the triumphant conclusion was most marked. The apparent stalemate continued for many months, when it looked as if every hillock and rise of ground all the way to Tunis would cause a slow, bloody light. With adequate resources accumulated, however, and the long supply route organised, the Army was able to throw against the defences the most concentrated power of tanks, guns, shells, infantry, and bombs ever used on so narrow a front. CAPTURED LEADERS LONDON, May 18. General von Arnim, until ihe end of the year, will Hye in a comfortable country home, with spacious, wellguarded grounds, says the ’Daily Mail.” "it is technically called a “camp." General von Arnim will have a prisoner batman. Marshal Messe will be housed several miles away. Under international law. General von Arnim and Marshal Messe will live under the same conditions as British generals. Marshal Messe and General von A'rnim will thus fare better than Hess, who is regarded as a civilian internee.

AERIAL RAIDS

RUGBY, May 18

A Malta message says that fighters attacked a tank-landing craft filled with troops at Augusta yesterday. Hits were scored all over the vessel. Fire broke out in the stern.

Naval air squadrons attacked Porto Empedocle, straddling the power station, railway and nearby buildings. Fires were started near the power station. Last night, Intruder aircraft attacked shipping and railway communications and road transport in Southern Italy.

GEN. BLAMEY’S MESSAGE

WELLINGTON, May 18.

An exchange of telegrams between General Blarney and General Freyberg was released to-day by Army Headquarters in Wellington. General Blarney said: “All ranks of the Australian Army are proud of the magnificent part our brother Anzacs played in the glorious victory in North Africa. We send good luck, best wishes and congratulations to you all.”

General Freyberg replied: “I am sure that the smashing defeat of the Axis here in Africa, to which the A.I.F. made a magnificent contribution, is the beginning of an advance to final victory in all theatres of war. The spirit of Anzac lives on here as in the Pacific. Good luck to all under your command, from the Second N.Z.E.F.”

FRENCH ADMINISTRATION.

RUGBY, May 18

Mr. Attlee, in the Commons, said French North Africa was at present administered by the French Civil and Military High Command under General Giraud at Algiers, subject to certain powers which the Allied Commander-in-Chief possessed in l virtue of the arrangement concluded with the local French authorities at the time of the Allied landings. Any alteration in the arrangements would presumably be a matter for discussion between the parties concerned. General de Gaulle was not yet 'associated with the French High Command in North Africa. A resolution of gratitude for the African victory expressed in similarterms to the’one presented in the Commons by Mr. Attlee was moved in the Lords by Lord Cranborne. VICHY~ADMIRAL (Recd. 1 p.m.) LONDON, May 18. The Vichy ~.radio announced that Admiral Esteva arrived at Vichy from Paris accompanied by M. De Brin.on, and Ramm, who was German ; Minister at Paris. Admiral Esteva I was received with military honours. I He held a long conference with Pe- ' tain and Laval.