Italian, British Cruisers

Northern Advocate, 10 April 1942, Page 3

Italian, British Cruisers

LONDON, April 9

An Admiralty communique announces that a submarine under the command of Lieutenant-Commander E. P. Tomkinson, torpedoed and sank an Italian cruiser of 10,000 tons armed with eight-inch guns, in the Central Mediterranean.

The cruiser, which was escorted by destroyers and planes, sank eight minutes after being hit. Later a destroyer was seen picking up survivors. Italy has now lost five out of the seven 10,000-ton cruisers she possessed when she entered the war. All these vessels carried a complement of over 700 officers and men. The British cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall were sunk in the Indian Ocean as the result of a Japanese air attack. There are 1100 survivors, including the commanding officers of both ship's. The Cornwall was a 10,000-ton cruiser, built in 1926. She carried eight Binch, eight 4in and 20 smaller guns. The Dorsetshre was of 9975 tons and was built in 1929. She was of approximately the same armament.

Li Bay of Bengal

In connection with the sinking of the cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall. it is learned in London that it became apparrent on April 6 that an enemy naval force, including an air-craft-carrier, was operating in the Bay of Bengal. An enemy surface craft attacked merchantmen. This force was believed to be operating from the Andaman Islands. It is officially announced in New Delhi that recent naval and air attacks against shipping in the Bay of Bengal have resulted in the sinking of several merchantmen. Between 400 and 500 survivors were landed on various points on the Orissa coast.

Rome radio declared that a naval battle is going on in the Bay of Bengal.