Tripoli Heavily Bombarded By Naval Units

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 96, 23 April 1941, Page 7

Tripoli Heavily Bombarded By Naval Units

Six Transports

And Destroyer Hit ALSO POWER STATION AND MILITARY STORES LONDON, April 22. The Navy struck another severe blow at enemy communications in North Africa when units of the Mediterranean fleet bombarded the port of Tripoli, the chief Axis supply base for the armies in Libya. A brief Admiralty communique stated: “A heavy bombardment of Tripoli was carried out by heavy and light units of the Mediterranean fleet. There are no further details.” The Navy is keeping constant watch on the stretch of sea between Sicily and the African mainland over which enemy transports and supply ships must pass to reinforce the Axis armies in Libya. The Navy’s latest blow follows the annihilation of a convoy of five ships and three destroyers and the sinking of a large tanker. A later message states that six transports, a destroyer, a power station and military stores were among the targets hit by shells in the bombardment. German war correspondents say General Romnel is about to resume the offensive in the Western Desert. Several squadrons of Stukas have arrived and the Greek campaign is expected to end soon. The Libyan campaign has meantime neutralised the British naval units preventing them helping operations in Greece, declare the Germans.