AXIS SHIP LOST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20637, 18 August 1941, Page 5

AXIS SHIP LOST

ATTACKS ON CONVOYS TORPEDOES AND BOMBS MANY DIRECT HITS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 11.20 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 17 “Highly successful air attacks were made on enemy shipping in the Mediterranean on Friday and during Thursday night," states a communique issued by Royal Air Force headquarters in the Middle East. “Aircraft oi the Fleet Air Arm attacked a convoy of five merchant vessels, escorted by destroyers. Three merchant vessels and one destroyer were hit by torpedoes. A violent explosion occurred on one of the ships, a vessel of about 6000 tons, which was last seen with a thick pall of black smoke pouring from it. Another vessel of 3UoU ions was last seen with a heavy' list to port. The crew of one of the destroyers was seen being transferred to another. “Subsequent reconnaissance by aircraft showed that only three merchantmen were approaching Tripoli after the action and it can be presumed that the others were sunk. Tankers Destroyed , “On Friday, in the central Mediterranean, Blenheim aircraft of the Royal Air' Force attacked two tankers oi 4000 tons and two sc~ jimers of GOO ions between Tripoli and Benghazi. All four ships were hit. One tanker blew up and the other was set on fire. “During Friday night heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force raided shipping at Catania. Bombs were observed bursting on the central mole where trucks of stores and cases were considerably damaged. Railway and motor transport alongside were also damaged. Other heavy' bombers attacked Augusta harbour, bombs falling on the railway sidings and on the citadel. “During the same night, aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm dropped a number of bombs on aerodromes at Gerbinc and Trapani in Sicily. From these operations, two of our aircraft are missing.”