DERNA BLASTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20639, 15 December 1941, Page 5

DERNA BLASTED

HAVOC IN PORT CRUISER DODGES BOMBS (Eloo. Tel. Copyright—United Preaa Asjii.) (Reed. Dec. 15, 1C a.m.) CAIRO, Dec. 14. General Rommel is believed to have withdrawn to the second line of defence near Derna which may account for a British cruiser’s daring attack on Derna on Wednesday. The cruiser, screened by destroyers, swept to within point-blank range and heavily shelled the supply depot in the first daylight surprise attack of the present offensive. For ten minutes the cruiser fired broadsides, stirring up a hornet's nest of enemy dive-bombers which tried for hours to sink her. The cruiser’s shells riddled a 3,000ton merchantman and severely damaged other ships in the harbour, tearing great pieces from their hulls and demolishing the docks after which the British ships withdrew without loss. An agency correspondent with the east Mediterranean Fleet, describing the bombardment of Derna, says that repeated 10-gun salvoes poured more than 200 shells into Derna. The captain of the cruiser said: ‘‘We saw large chunks flying from a merchant ship of about 3,000 tons, and I think some of the Axis workshops will be unusable and offices uninhabitable for a long time. 15 Minutes’ Bombardment “We, having had no luck in finding any enemy shipping, approached Derna, accompanied by two destroyers. We opened up in the morning. The enemy shore batteries retaliated with six smallish guns. Some of the shooting was very good, dropping near our bows, but other shots were erratic. We carried on the shelling for 10 to 15 minutes. Forty-two minutes later the first wave of divebombers came after us. Junkers 87's and 88’s and torpedo bombers attacked incessantly from 8 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. This went on at increasing intervals till about 12.30 p.m. By altering course, we avoided all the torpedoes and suffered no casualtie: or damage in spite of six near misses from bombs. The enemy used 25 to 30 aircraft and dropped 30 to 40 bombs. We shot down one Junkers 87 for certain. Another was most probably sho 4 down and several others damaged.” Possibility of Reinforcements Speaking of General Rommel’s chances of receiving reinforcements in Libya, a senior naval officer at Alexandria said: “They possibly may get some there, but if they hope to land one division Ihey will have to send two. It would take weeks, necessitating several trips across the Mediterranean since the African bases have little facilities for landing numbers of tanks and armoured vehicles in a hurry. The Italians definitely appear more and more afraid to risk ' a convoy across the Mediterranean despite General Rommel’s urgent need of supplies. Since our recent cruiser successes Italian convoys are far less numerous. At the same time they are receiving a naval escort of an increasing number and size in order that some, at least, may possibly break through the British stranglehold.” The officer gave the present size or the Italian fleet as four, possibly five battleships, 10 cruisers, and 30 destroyers. He added that German submarines, which had been operating in the western Mediterranean, were gradually working towards the eastern end.