HALF SHIPS LOST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20639, 20 August 1941, Page 5

HALF SHIPS LOST

ATTACK ON CONVOY R.A.F. AND FLEET AIR ARM LIBYAN PORTS BOMBED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.') (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 19. “Swordfish aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm carried out a highly successful attack on an enemy convoy, consisting of five large merchant vessels and a tanker, escorted by six destroyers, in the central Mediterranean during Sunday night,” states a communique issued by Royal Air Force headquarters in the Middle East. “A vessel of (1000 tons was hit by a torpedo and sank after two hours. The tanker was also hit by a torpedo and a violent explosion followed. An aircraft which shadowed the remainder of the convoy reported later that the tanker was still on fire and had stopped. There was a scene of considerable confusion. guns were fired in all directions without any definite target. A second merchantman was then torpedoed and a reconnaissance the following day showed it had been beached at Lampedusa Island. The ship was then attacked by Blenheims and a direct hit with a heavy bomb set it on fire. Volumes of black smoke poured from the ship. “Heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force raided Benghazi and Tripoli during Sunday night. At Benghazi, the harbour and shipping were attacked and bombs were observed to burst on bases on the Juliana, Cathedral and central moles and railway sidings. An explosion and several fires resulted. “At Tripoli, the harbour was bombed. Hits on the Spanish mole and fort caused a number of explosions. “An attempt made by a large force of ME 109’s and ME 110’s to attack shipping off the Egyptian coast yesterday, was foiled by Tomahawk aircraft of the Royal Air Force which gave combat to the ME 109's and compelled the ME 110’s to drop their bombs some miles from the target. “In the Wolchefit, Debarech and Gondar areas of Abyssinia, aircraft of the Royal Air Force and South African Air Force have been cooperating in machine-gunning and bombing enemy positions. Direct hits were scored on huts, buildings and the Fascist headquarters were destroyed. A number of fierce fires were started. “Operating off Malta, a Hurricane intercepted and shot down a Caproni seaplane. From all these operations two of our aircraft are missirtg.”