GREAT PART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 June 1942, Page 3

GREAT PART

PLAYED BY ALLIED PLANES IN MEDITERRANEAN BATTLE. DIRECT HIT ON ITALIAN BATTLESHIP. LONDON, June 17. Allied planes which were protecting the British convoys in the Mediterranean proceeding to Malta and Tobruk, shot down at least 14 enemy aircraft. Spitfires from Malta put an umbrella oyer the convoy as it approached the island. A direct hit was obtained on an enemy battleship. According to an American pilot, who took part in the operations, at the beginning of the battle, the American planes took the Italian fleet completely by surprise. One battleship received a direct hit. When R.A.F. torpedocarrying planes attacked, the Italian fleet broke up its formation. REVERSE SUFFERED BY THE EIGHTH ARMY BUT CRITICAL WEEKS SURVIVED. PROBLEMS OF COMPLEX CAMPAIGN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, June 17. t While it is acknowledged in London that the armoured forces of the Eighth Army have suffered reverses, there is thankfulness that it survived during critical weeks which might have brought the enemy' more success than he has actually gained. Although no doubt is felt that further critical days are . still ahead, there is equally no doubt that the enemy’s second attempt to annihilate part of the British forces has failed. Summing up the latest phase of the battle, the “Manchester Guardian” says: “General Rommel will now tackle Tobruk, perhaps by a frontal assault, combined with another fcweep towards the sea east of El Adem, cutting the road which feeds our Army and Tobruk from the east. Each side has long communications, so that the most profitable line of attack is always an outflanking thrust from south to north against them. We have successfully exploited it twice and the Axis once. There can be no surprise about it, but also there seems no certain answer to tank attack, even when it is expected.”