Enemy Cruiser Left Ablaze Off Italian Coast

Northern Advocate, 26 August 1943, Page 3

Enemy Cruiser Left Ablaze Off Italian Coast

(8.0. W., 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug, 25. Since the closing stages of the Sicilian campaign, says a correspondent at headquarters, North Africa, one of the principal targets of the North African Air Force has been Italian railways, but yesterday motor transport and coastal shipping were also attacked. Chief attacks in the last 24 hours were delivered by Wellingtons of the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force last night on Torre Annuziati in the Gulf of Naples on this important town which has been regularly raided by Wellingtons since the closing stages of the Sicilian campaign, 40001 b block-bust-ers hit steenvorks, and many other heavy bombs fell on marshalling yards. Once again, raiders reported that they were not troubled by enemy fighters, although there was a certain amount of flak.

Fhotographs confirm that bombs were well grouped in the target ares, Long-range Invaders, whicij are becoming the general utility plane of the North African Air Forces, went after railways at Capri, on the west coast 125 miles north of Messina, at Nestrovillari, 40 miles south-east of Capri and Sibari. While Spitfires provided cover, invaders hit railway tracks, and dropped bombs at the entrance to a. tunnel near Capri. Other Invaders, ranging over 120 miles north of the Straits of Messina, hit a cruiser with 5001 b bombs. The vessel was burning fiercely after the aircraft pulled out of their dive. This is the first occasion that invaders have hit a large enemy vessel, though during the battle for, Sicily they sank many small craft. An enemy cruiser was successfully attacked by Allied aircraft yesterday, according to a North African communique. “Fighter-bombers of the North African air forces yesterday attacked railway communications in Sapri, Sabari and Castrovillari, Southern Italy. An enemy cruiser off the Southern Italy coast was also attacked by fighter-bombers. Two hits were scored and the vessel was left in flames. Attacks on motor transport near Reggio were made by fighterbombers during the day. Night bombers last night attacked marshalling yards and steel works at Torre and Annunziati, near Naples. In attacks on enemy shipping yesterday, one small vessel was sunk and two others were left in a sinking condition. Four aircraft are missing from these operations,”