SUNK IN MEDITERRANEAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 41, 19 February 1943, Page 5

SUNK IN MEDITERRANEAN

SIX AXIS SUPPLY SHIPS

(Recd. 6 p.m.) Rugby, Feb. 17. The Admiralty announces that six more enemy supply ships have been destroyed, a seventh damaged, and another, in spite of being strongly escorted, torpedoed and probably sunk by submarines in the central Mediterranean. One of our submarines encountered a convoy of two west-bound enemy supply ships west of Sicily. These were powerfully escorted by destroyers, motor launches and aircraft, but the submarine pressed its attack and torpedoed one supply ship, which was probably sunk.

In the Gulf of Hammamet three small enemy supply ships south-bound., fully laden, were attacked by gunfire. Two were sunk and the third was beached and is thought to be a total loss. A fourth south-bound laden supply ship was also damaged by gunfire.

Near Brindisi a British submarine torpedoed and sank a medium-sized supply ship. Another small supply ship was also attacked, but took refuge inshore. The submarine followed and scored a hit with a torpedo, after which the ship was beached with its back broken.

Another large east-bound supply shin, unescorted, was hit by two torpedoes and sunk. Another submarine bombarded a train in a railway station at San Ambregio. on the northern coast of Sirilv and scored marv hits. The Netherlands Admiralty reports that a Dutch submarine operating with the British forces in the Mediterranean torneoded and sunk an Itni’an snhmarine New offensive methods have boon developed against U-boats in the Mediterranean. This was revealed today by the Allior naval chief in tho Mr>diterranoa n . Admiral of tho Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham, who quoted figure? proving the success of the new hods.

wo landed in North Africa. 789 shins have been oon’-nved into

African ports, carrying 6.509,009 ton'; nf with losses amounting to less than 2 per cent.

The Admiral said th'd the new dofnncjvn methods would be improved stil] more. Ho also said that sunpl” shins wore makin" ’•■’'•"eased use of Tripoli hc" Ur ’” r -P O.W.