BOMBARDMENT OF GENOA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 5

BOMBARDMENT OF GENOA

! WORK OF BRITISH NAVY j ITALIANS SIGNALLED, “WHO ARE YOU?” THE RENOWN’S GUNS REPLIED LONDON, Feb. 14. I Further details of the bombardment of Genoa (Italy) are supplied by a correspondent who was on board' the battleship H.M.S. Malaya. i “Only a handful of people knew of Admiral Sir James Somerville's intentions while we were steaming at full speed all night until 6 a.m., when the well-kept secret was revealed that we were going to bombard Genoa,” he said. “A thick white mist blanketed the Italian coast as the aeroplanes were catapulted from the cruiser H.M.S. Sheffield and the aircraft-car-rier H.M.S. Ark Royal to act as spotters. There was still no sign of the shore. “Our presence had been detected as zero hour approached. The battle cruiser H.M.S. Renown turned into position, and we and the Sheffield turned with her. A few minutes before the bombardment opened we sighted from the shore white and green lights which flickered out the challenge: “Who are you?’ “In reply a great spurt of red flame shot from the Renown’s side as the first salvo of 15-inch shells screamed toward the distant targets. The guns of the Sheffield and the Malaya then | opened up. There was an almost continuous blast of flame from the Sheffield’s side as Her twelve six-inch guns poured shell after shell into the Ansaldo electrical and boiler works. The Renown and the Mala were concentrating on objectives in the inner harbour, including the power station. “We ’were then steaming parallel with the coast. High above the targets, our spotters, dodging a vicious hail of anti-aircraft fire, were constantly signalling directions to the guns. “For 15 minutes the Italian batteries failed to reply. Then came a red flash from the shore and a white column of water shot up 1000 yards short of the bombarding ships. “Altogether, the Italian reply consisted of ahou* 20 shells, mostly of small calibre, and none of them fell nearer than 500 yards. "The spotters joyfully signalled the success of the bombardment as they swooped past, the observers leaning out and waving their hands above their heads.

"Just as we were turning away Italian bombers appeared, but they met a terrific lerrage and two of them were quickly shot down. Only three bombs were dropped, all of which exploded in the sea half a mile behind the Ark Royal. Our only casualty was a Swordfish bomber which failed to return.” NORTH ATLANTIC SWEEP BY NAVAL UNITS OF HOME FLEET SECRET MISSION SI CCESSFVL LONDON, Feb. 13. Correspondents accompanied powerful units of the Home Fleet, including battleships, in a 1000-mile dash in the North Atlantic on a special mission so secret that only three persons in the fleet knew the object. When they sailed the correspondents were not permitted 1o describe the mission beyond saying that it was successful. They did not sight the enemy in any form for three days and nights at sea, although they repeated!}' overhauled ships which, believed to be enemy, turned out to be British. Auxiliary cruisers' crews ate and slept at action stations for the whole time. The furthermost, yoint of the sweep was a mysterious lighthouse behind which snow-cls<ft mountains could be seen reaching to the sky.