COMMAND OF SEAS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21183, 5 August 1940, Page 8

COMMAND OF SEAS

BRITAIN’S ACHIEVEMENT ITALIAN EFFORTS FUTILE DIFFERENT METHODS (Official Wireless) (Received August 5, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, August 4 Authoritative naval circles in Egypt according to reports from Cairo, agree that little success is being achieved by Italy’s effort to shake Britain’s command of the Mediterranean by the use of swarms of first-line aeroplanes and numerous submarines and mines. The Italian are employing different tactics for merchant shipping and warships. Most of the attacks against convoys have been carried out by submarines, while warships have been atttvked from the air, often as many as 100 machines, flying in trrowhead formation. Apparently while the Italians think it cheaper and more effective to use under-water torpedoing against merchant shipping, the disablement or destruction of British capital ships—which the Italians have failed up to now to accomplish except on paper—justifies the expenditure of many salvoes of bombs and even of pilots. The first convoy which left Malta with internees reached Alexandria in four days, during which those in one hip stated that not a single Italian surface vessel was sighted, although several submarines were engaged, which disappeared when destroyers dropped depth charges. The only aeroplanes sighted during the voyage were British. IN MEDITERRANEAN ATTACKS BY FLEET AIR ARM ITALIAN PLANES DESTROYED FIRES AT AERODROME (Official Wireless) (Received August 5, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 4 An Admiralty communique states: During operations in the Mediterranean on Thursday and Friday Swordfish aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm attacked an Italian aerodrome at Cagliari, in Sardinia. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was met, but the attack was successful, direct hits being made on four hangars, two of which burned fiercely. Four aircraft on the ground in the open were destroyed, and many of the aerodrome buildings were destroyed or badly damaged and set on firo. The crew of one Swordfish are missing and it is feared that they have lost their lives. A second Swordfish made a forced landing in Sardinia, and an Italian communique states that the crew of this aircraft have been taken prisoner. There were no other casualties. During these operations bombing attacks on His Majesty’s ships were made by enemy aircraft. No damage and no casualties were sustained. One enemy aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and is not likely ’to have reached its base. Ships of the Fleet Air Arm shot down three enemy airciaft which were shadowing or attempting to bomb our ships. BRITISH WARSHIPS DEPARTURE FROM GIBRALTAR PLANES BOMB THE ROCK (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 5, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 4 The Berlin wireless stated that dispatches from Tangier report that unidentified planes bombed Gibraltar yesterday. They flew over Gibraltar and ascertained that British warships had left the base. NAVAL LOSSES ADMIRALTY CASUALTY LIST United Press Assn.—Eiec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 5. 3.15 p.m.) LONDON. August 4 The Admiralty announces that the casualties in the destroyer Wren were I four officers killed and two wounded, and 31 ratings killed and six wounded. The casualties in the Ardent were ten officers missing, one rating killed and 143 missing. The casualties in the Acasta were two officers killed and six missing, eleven ratings killed and 140 missing. The Ardent and the Acasta were presumed lost at Narvik on June 10, and the loss of the Wren was anI nounced on July 29. The missing from the Acasta include Commander C. E. Glasfurd, who was a sub-lieutenant in the sloop Laburnum on the New Zealand station in 1924-25. CADIZ, August 4 Two British ships are proceeding to Gibraltar with 35 survivors from a British vessel torpedoed in the Atlantic. ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE OFFICERS OF GRAF SPEE FOUR MEN ARRESTED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. copyright) (Received August 5. 3.15 p.m.) BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 4 Four non-commissioned officers from the Admiral Graf Spec were j arrested at Rio Negro as they tried i to escape to Chile.