Captain Agnew Does It Again

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1941, Page 6

Captain Agnew Does It Again

LONDON, December 3,

An Admiralty communique states: “On Monday morning a surface force under the command of Captain W. G. Agnew, in H.M.S. Aurora, intercepted the Italian supply ship Adriatico, of 1976 tons, laden with artillery, stores and ammunition, bound for Libya. She was sunk by gunfire, and some survivors were picked up. “Shortly afterwards Captain Agnew’s force intercepted the tanker Mantovani, of 6500 tons, which was escorted by the 1628-ton destroyer Alvise da Mosto, armed with six 4.7 in. guns. These ships were immediately engaged. “The Alvise da Mosto blew up and the Mantovani, which was carrying about 10,000 tons of petrol and other oils, was sunk. No casualties or damage was sustained by our forces.”

On Arctic Patrol

The Greek submarine Glaukos, patrolling off Candia, fired two torpedoes at a 3000-ton enemy supply ship, which was left sinking. __ It is stated authoritatively in London that British submarines have recently gained successes against enemy supply ships to the north of the Scandinavian coast. Our submarines are constantly patrolling well Inside the Arctic circle, and, together with Russian naval units, they are taking constant toll of enemy shipping.

These successes cannot be announced as they occur because the position of submarines cannot be revealed while they are at sea. Apart from the exceptional dangers of their service under water, the men live under great hardships for long periods away from their bases, in the very confined space of a submarine.

Previous Exploit

At 1 a.m. on November 11 two British cruisers and two destroyers steaming in the darkness off the sole of Italy’s boot met with what they were looking for. That afternoon a Maryland reconnaissance plane had spotted an Italian convoy of eight ships with an escort of destroyers leaving Taranto bound for Libya.

But Captain William Gladstone Agnew, in command of the British squadron, met more than he had bargained for, the original convoy was just being joined by two more merchantmen; two heavy Italian cruisers, twice the size of his own were on hand.

He did not hesitate. Apparently the British released torpedoes at point blank range, followed up by gun fire. Somehow, in the darkness, with radio locaters or searchlights, they spotted every ship in the convoy. They sank nine, left the tenth, a tanker, blazing furiously.

Unprecedented Feat

For good measure, they sent down (by Italian admission) two enemy destroyers. Presumably, the Italian cruisers, fearing that a British battleship was nearby, turned tail and fled. The entire British squadron got back to Malta unscathed. Winston Churchill cabled Captain Agnew congratulations. King George VI. named him a knight commander of the Order of the Bath for his deed, unprecedented in World War II.; finding and destroying an entire convoy.