FRANCO-ITALIAN FRONTIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25798, 20 March 1945, Page 5

FRANCO-ITALIAN FRONTIER

SUCCESSFUL BOMBARDMENT DESTROYERS ENGAGED RUGBY, Mar. 18. A force of three enemy destroyers or large torpedo-boats was detected on Saturday night to the north of Cape Corse, on the northern point of Corsica, cables a Rome correspondent. The British destroyers Meteor and Lookout were despatched to deal with them and in a running fight two of the ehemy vessels were sunk. . The action came at the end ox a series of successful bombardments of targets on the Franco-Italian frontier during the past 10 days. On March 9 the British destroyer Milne fired upon an observation post and store house, scoring several direct hits. Two days later the French destroyer Basque engaged a fort while the United States destroyer Parker opened up on troops. The following day Basque and Parker were in action again against similar targets. On March 14 the French destroyer Simoun carried on the work. The same night a French patrol craft intercepted and engaged two German torpedo-boats. One was sunk and the other fled. . , , That night also the British destroyers Milne and Meteor bombarded the port of Genoa. British motor torpedo-boats, operating close inshore off Venice on Friday night, engaged five lighters. Torpedoes were fired and all the enemy craft were seen to sink, one after a violent explosion.