NO ITALIAN SHIPS SIGHTED

Southland Times, Issue 24154, 17 June 1940, Page 5

NO ITALIAN SHIPS SIGHTED

According to a naval Spokesman at Cairo, units of the Allied fleets have been at sea since the outbreak of war carrying out sweeping operations in the Mediterranean with the object of protecting shipping and destroying any enemy ships which might be encountered. It is understood that no enemy ships have been sighted. While the Royal Air Force was bombing Tobruck harbour on Tuesday, British naval units were cooperating in the vicinity and were engaged by shore batteries. No Allied ship was hit during the operations. An Italian cruiser, San Giorgic, of 9000 tons, and two submarines were bonjbed and set on fire. Successful attacks were made on enemy submarines and several mines were swept up or destroyed off the Egyptian coast. A Dutch tanker has been sunk in the Mediterranean with the loss of four

lives. An Italian submarine took refuge in Algeriras after being chased by British warships. Another put into Ceuta, damaged after cannonading heard from the Spanish coast. The submarine’s officers said that they intended to leave after repairs, but British warships are reported to be waiting outside. Last night the Air Force of the French fleet attacked oil stores in the area of Venice, says a French communique. Leaflets were dropped by the planes over Rome. Railway lines, industrial plants and troop concentrations were shelled on the Italian coast by French warships. The Italian steamer Marzocco is believed to have been scuttled off Scotland. Thirty-one members of the crew were landed at a British port. A submarine torpedoed a Spanish ship off Cape Finisterre. A fishing-boat rescued 19 members of the crew.