SINKING OF CONVOY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24764, 14 November 1941, Page 6

SINKING OF CONVOY

THE MEDITERRANEAN ACTION VALUE OF NIGHT TRAINING (Rec. 7 p.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 12. Brilliant leadership, offensive action, thorough training and mutual understanding were the distinctive qualities which characterised the action in which British naval forces annihilated an Italian convoy on Saturday, sank three escorting destroyers, and damaged a fourth—this was the opinion of an expert commentator in London. He revealed that two Italian cruisers which were " covering" the convoy and must have made off at top speed when the action began were later met by a British submarine, which sank one destroyer and damaged another which was in company with them. Generally, he said, that attack was a good example of the attainment of the object of all naval operations, which is to prevent the enemy from using the sea routes for his own purposes. The straightforward way is to destroy enemy naval forces which dispute the control of the sea routes to the barren shores of Libya. The Italians can well afford strong naval escorts from the navy, which still contains five battleships, four eight-inch cruisers, 10 six-inch cruisers, 37 destroyers, 45 torpedo boats, and approximately 80 submarines. Special significance should be attached not only to the complete cooperation between reconnaissance aircraft and surface striking forces, but also to the remarkable results of intensive British naval night training. It is obvious that owing to the proximity of Italian naval and air bases such action could only be carried out in the dark hours and success could only be possible if there was complete understanding between the units engaged. The value of such night training had already been demonstrated by the brilliant action off Cape Matapan.

The commentator finally repeated what already had been commented upon here.- that although British submarines and aircraft had done remarkable work in sinking Axis shipping in the Mediterranean surface craft alone have the opportunity of making such a clean sweep as took place on Saturday.