ITALIAN NAVAL UNITS MET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 November 1940, Page 7

ITALIAN NAVAL UNITS MET

RUNNING ENGAGEMENT WITH BRITISH FORCES Enemy Suffers Considerable Damage WEDNESDAY'S ACTION IN MEDITERRANEAN

Chase Carried Close to Italian Coastline

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright]

(Received 30th November, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, 29th November.

The Admiralty announced that H.M.S. Renown and other forces in the Mediterranean on Wednesday attacked two Italian battleships and many cruisers and destroyers. One enemy cruiser was set seriously afire and one destroyer was seen to be down astern and listing and another destroyer also listing. A torpedo from a plane hit a battleship of the Littorio class. Other enemy warships are also believed to have been hit by air attack. Slight damage and a few casualties were caused in a British cruiser. The Admiralty states: “Soon after 10 a.m. our forces, which were to the west of Sardinia, received reports from reconnoitring planes that enemy forces consisting of two battleships and a large number of cruiser and destroyers were at sea about 75 miles to the north-east. “Our forces instantly made full speed and altered their course to close with the enemy, hoping to bring him to action. A few minutes before noon enemy cruisers were sighted hull down on the horizon. “At 12.21 p.m. our advanced light units fired on the enemy, and their cruisers replied but almost immediately turned away and retired to the north-east at high speed under cover of smoke. At 12.50 p.m. two enemy battleships accompanied by cruisers were sighted.

RENOWN’S CHASE “One battleship was of the Littorio class and the other of the Cavour class. The heavy ships of the enemy fired on our cruisers, which were forced by the much heavier metal to make a slight turn away, but within a few minutes the enemy battleships themselves turned away and our cruisers immediately resumed the pursuit of the Italian cruisers. “Our slower units rapidly fell astern, but the battleship H.M.S. Renown (Captain C. E. B. Simeon), flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir James Somerville, did her utmost to bring the enemy heavy ships to action but was unable because of the speed with which the enemy retired. At 1.10 p.m. the chase, having been carried to within a few miles of the enemy’s coast, was abandoned due to the extreme range and the enemy’s smoke screens. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE “No damage was observed at this time, but subsequent air reconnaissance indicated that our gunfire must have caused considerable damage before the enemy reached the shelter of his coast or disappeared behind the smokescreen. An enemy cruiser, believed to be of the eight-inch gun type, was set seriously on fire aft, a destroyer of the Grecale class was down astern and listing heavily and stopping, and another destroyer w’as listing slightly and losing way. “Fleet Air Arm planes from the Ark Royal (Captain C. S. Holland) attacked repeatedly du.mg the pursuit and after it. One force of Swordfishes carried out a torpedo attack on the enemy battleships and a torpedo was seen to hit a battleship of the new and powerful Littorio class. PLANES STRIKE AGAIN “Another force of Swordfishes attacked an enemy unit consisting of three eight-inch gun cruisers and a torpedo almost certainly hit the rear ship, which was a 10,000-tonner of the Bolzano class, and the leading ship of this formation was observed to have reduced speed. “Immediately after '-is attack a force of Skuas dive-bombed in formation three six-inch gun cruisers of the Condottieri class. Two very near misses were obtained and it appeared that one cruiser was damaged in the boilerroom. “All our planes returned safely. “The only damage to our forces was in the Berwick (10,000-ton eight-inch gun cruiser; Captain G. L. Warren) which received two hits. The damage was slight and one officer and six ratings were killed in the Berwick, and two ratings were seriously wounded and seven slightly wounded. ITALIAN PLANES ATTTACK “Ten enemy bombers escorted by fighters attacked our forces at 2.35 p.m., but owing to the action of Fleet Air Arm fighters, they did not damage any ship. Fifteen bombers in three waves again attacked at 4.40 p.m. and Fleet Air Arm fighters again intercepted them but some of the bombers were able to carry out an attack. “The Ark Royal disappeared from sight after the splashes of about 30 bombs falling close to her. She emerged from the spray with all her guns firing furiously and sustained neither damage nor casualties. “Two Italian float planes were shot down. “One of our fighters has not returned to. her ship. Apart from this and the slight damage to the Berwick we sustained neither damage nor casualties.” ARK ROYAL’S COMMANDER Captain C. S. Holland, commander of H.M.S. Ark Royal, was the “carefully chosen British officer” who, on 3rd July, was sent by Vice-Admiral Sir James Somerville to wait on Admiral Gensoul, the French commander-in-chief, with the British ultimatum as to the disposal of the French warships at Oran and Mers-el-Kebir. Captain Holland was popular with the French Navy when serving as British Naval attache in Paris.

ITALIANS’ COMMUNIQUE

[British Official Wireless]

RUGBY, 28th November. An Italian version of yesterday’s engagement in the Mediterranean makes generous claims of losses inflicted on British forces. Two British cruisers are stated to have been hit and seriously damaged by shells, an aircraftcarrier, a battleship, and a cruiser are stated to have been bombed, and seven aircraft are said to have been destroyed. It is admitted in the communique that the destroyer Lanciere was seriously hit and towed to base after an engagement south of Sardinia, and that a shell hit the cruiser Fiume but did not explode. It is also admitted that two Italian planes were shot down The Lanciere is one of the latest Italian deslroyers of 1620 tons, and was completed in 1938. The Fiume is a cruiser of 10,000 tons.

BLOWS FOLLOWED UP

AIR RAIDS ON TRIPOLI AND DODECANESE [U.P.A.—By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] LONDON, 29th November. Hard on the heels of the damage done to the Italian navy on Wednesday, planes of the Fleet Air Arm have struck two fresh blows at the Italians. One was to a port in the Dodecanese Islands and the other in North Africa. So far only a brief report of the operations has been received. This says that under cov’r of the Mediterranean Fleet, air attacks were launched simultaneously on the Dodecanese Islands and Tripoli. Despite poor visibility, the attack on the port in the Dodecanese Islands was successful, Dockyards were hit and fires started. A ship, probably a warship, was attacked. One British plane failed to return. At Tripoli a ship and quays were hit and large fires were started. All the British planes returned safely.

NAVAL ACTION IN CHANNEL

LIGHT FORCE CONTACTS GERMANS DAMAGE ON BOTH SIDES LONDON, 29th November. The Admiralty announced that early this morning contact was established in the English Channel between a light British naval force and German naval units.

The enemy units made off at high speed for Brest. One of the British ships received damage. Damage was inflicted on the enemy, but the extent is not yet known.

NAVY'S BLOCKADE

AMERICAN ACCOUNT OF EFFECT ON ITALY FUTURE OUTLOOK LONDON, 29th November. An official report issued by the United States Department of Agriculture states that the British blockade of the Mediterranean is so effectively stopping the flow of much-needed foodstuffs and other materials to Italy that her economic structure is becoming disorganised. Food prices have risen in Italy since the war broke out by 40 per cent. It is pointed out that Italy went into the war with little or no reserves vital to her agriculture. Experts comment that it is difficult to see what countries might be able to fill her needs, notably of rubber, cotton, oils, jute, wool, flax and coffee. Italy’s lack of flax, oils and meat may become more serious as the blockade continues, necessitating more severe rationing.

ITALY FACES HARD WINTER

(Received 30th November, 9.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 29th November. The Department of Agriculture reports that the British blockade of the Mediterranean is so effective that Italy faces the winter deprived of over 80 per cent, of imports, including foodstuffs, and agricultural raw materials. Many poorer classes are suffering malnutrition. Prices are increased 40 per cent. The lack of fats, oils and meats m which the country is most deficient is likely to increase. Meat, fresh pastry and ice cream at present are permitted three times a week. The monthly ration of olive oil, a major item of diet, is restricted to one pint, and butter, lard or suet, three-quarters of a pound. Sugar is reduced and cotton is expect®d to be exhausted within a few weeks The effects of the food shortage are most acute in southern Italy.