SEA WATCHDOGS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 25 November 1941, Page 9

SEA WATCHDOGS

CRUISER SQUADRONS HARRYING AXIS PORTS COAST OF CYRENAICA (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.50 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 23. The work of the British navy in the Mediterranean during the great battle in Libya is described by a special correspondent on board the battleship Barham off the coast of Cyrenacia who writes: — “Our cruiser squadrons nightly continue to fling 6in. salvoes into the enemy coastal positions and supply dumps. With our submarines and light units taking care of the central Mediterranean our powerful Eastern Mediterranean fleet is playing the role of watchdog along the whole coast of Cyrenaica, thus ensuring that the Axis forces shall receive no supplies or reinforcements while General Cunningham’s army thrusts across Libya. “On Friday evening two Junkers 88’s approached the fleet at dusk and circled round, apparently reporting the movement, but they kept at a distance when we opened fire and were subsequently driven off by naval aircraft. The enemy appeared to be too much occupied ashore to give us much attention and we have not seen any signs of the Italian navy endeavouring to protect the Libyan Italians’ sea flank, despite their numerical superiority.”