ITALIAN FLEET

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24636, 15 July 1943, Page 3

ITALIAN FLEET

NO PART IN DEFENCE SKILL OF ALLIED NAVIES (Kecd. (i.lO p.m.) LONDON, July 34 The non-appearance of the Italian Fleet around Sicily has caused rather less surprise than the disappearance of the Luftwaffe. One view is that the fleet is split, one half being at Spezia and the other at Taranto. United, it would consist of seven battleships, nine cruisers and many destroyers and Submarines. It would present a formidable threat. Whatever the reason for the splitting, it is suggested that the Italians made a first-class blunder, for it would be practically impossible for the fleet to unite to-day and form a unit sufficiently powerful to threaten the Allied supply lines. If ever the sections decide to fight they would have to go into action as separate units. Shortage of Destroyers The lack of destroyers is imposing inaction upon the Italian Naval Command, says the naval correspondent of tho Daily Telegraph. He points out that the two Italian fleets have not attempted to put out to sea since the Allied invasion of Sicily. "It is doubtful," he adds, "whether Italy at present could send to sea more than 25 destroyers. Italian destroyer strength was so whittled away when theso craft were responsible for the escorting of reinforcements and supplies for the Axis armies in North Africa and in the Dodecanese Islands that the Italian Navy now has not sufficient destroyers for tho needs of even one fleet." It is believed the British battle fleet is probably operating on both sides of Sicily—covering both Taranto and Spezia. There is no doubt here what the result of actions would be, although jit is admitted they might hinder the landing of troops and armament. Ho American Losses The Secretary of the United States Navy, Colonel W. F. Knox, announced that no American naval losses have so far been reported from the invasion of Sicily, says a message from Washington. The largest amphibious operation ever attempted was tho description the First j Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alex- | ander, gave of tho Sicilian invasion when speaking to the Foreign Press Association in London to-day. He said that between November, 19412, and .January 8, 19-13, the Allies had landed over 1,000,000 tons of supplies, over 400,000 personnel and over 40,000 vehicles in North Africa. Mr. Alexander continued: "In Sicily there is tho largest amphibious operation ever attempted. It has been carried to the place of landing by the Royal Navy and the United States Navy, in spite of the most difficult weather, with skill and determination which have reached the highest naval standards. Gratitude to Organisers "We should all be grateful to those who carried through the enormous task ; of planning and those who so brilliantly i got to all the right places just at the ! right time. Also we ought not to forget I the hundreds of merchant ships which i have licen engaged, and we owe them ! a great debt. ] "In the great task which still lies ] ahead of us in Sicily, we can be conj fident thtit the naval forces and the ; merchant ships, with assistance from | the air, will do their utmost to mainj tain our forces on land with all the : supplies they need until the campaign | is completed in Italy." | Mr. Alexander also paid a tribute to I the splendid co-operation of the United ! States Fleet and to the smaller | although valuable naval units of our other Allies. He emphasised the importance of naval power as a determining factor in the present war. Referring to the breaking of the blockade on Malta, Mr. Alexander said that from July, 1912, until May, 1943, we sank 346 enemy ships on Mediterranean supply lines.