RAID ON GENOA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20477, 11 February 1941, Page 9

RAID ON GENOA

SHIPS AND PLANES DESTRUCTIVE FIRES LEGHORN AND PISA OIL REFINERY ABLAZE DAMAGE TO RAILWAYS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) < Reed. 1.50 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 9. An Admiralty communique states that more detailed information received concerning the British operations against Italian bases in the Gulf of Genoa shows that the bombardment and bombing was even more successful than was at first thought. “Our forces under 'the command of Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville consisted of the Renown, the Malaya, the Ark Royal and the Sheffield, with light forces in company,” states the Admiralty. “Military targets in and around Genoa were subjected to a bombardment in which 300 tons of shells were fired and the following results observed: The Ansaldo electric works and the Ansaldo boiler works were heavily hit 1 and large fires were started. The port’s main power station, which also supplies power for the railways, was severely damaged and set on fire. Docks and Warehouses “Many hits were also made on dry docks, warehouses and harbour works surrounding the inner harbour. Here considerable fires broke out. The main oil fuel installation oil tanks were repeatedly hit and also a number of supply ships and the main goods yard of the railway.

“Several tons of high-explosive bombs and a large number of incendiaries were dropped by naval aircraft on the Anic oil refinery at Leghorn and other targets in the vicinity. The Anic refinery is one of the largest and most important oil plants in Italy.

“Other naval aircraft attacked Pisa, where the aerodrome and railway junction were hit. This railway junction is the intersection of the main west coast railway from Genoa to Rome and south, and one of the most important routes across the peninsula from Leghorn to Bologua and Venice.

"Two Italian aircraft which attempted to interfere were shot down. One of our Swordfish aircraft is missing. No other casualties were suffered by our forces in the course of these most successful operations.”