NAVAL ENGAGEMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 243, 15 October 1940, Page 5

NAVAL ENGAGEMENT

AN ITALIAN STORY ADMISSION OF LOSSES Received Oct. 14, 6.15 p.m. ROME, Oct. 13. An Italian communique states: ■'ltalian destroyers attacked British 1 naval forces from Malta on the night 1 of October 11 and sank an enemy 1 cruiser, propably of the Neptune class, 1 and damaged other British units, ’ hichw made off. The Italian losses z were two torpedo boats and a de- ( stroyer. A great part of the Italian J crews was saved. In the early hours I of the following morning Italian air formations intensely bombarded the enemy units, achieving notable results, in spite of violent anti-aircraft fire from British ships and the inter- 1 vention of British fighters, which took • off from a British aircraft-carrier. The latter was hit astern and a British heavy cruiser was damaged. Two] British fighters and one Italian were shot down. “In North Africa light Italian! J columns, having advanced 23 miles i east of Sidi Barrani, clashed with 8 small British armoured car and tank units and repulsed them. British air raids on Bardia and the ports of Derna and Tobruk caused slight damaged. In East Africa Italian patrols repulsed enemy motorised units making for the Eritrea frontier."