BATTLESHIP TORPEDOED

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21687, 25 March 1942, Page 3

BATTLESHIP TORPEDOED

ENEMY DRIVEN OFF SUPPLIES FOR MALTA tOfflcial Wireless) (Received March 25, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 24 An Admiralty communique states: Naval operations concerned with the passage of a convoy to Malta have been in progress in the Mediterranean during the past few days. On Sunday afternoon par,J, of our forces under the command of Rear-Admiral Vian, which were covering the passage of the convoy, made contact with a force of Italian cruisers, the intention of which clearly was to intercept and destroy the convoy. Rear-Admiral Vian’s forces at once engaged the enemy, who were driven off without damage to our ships. Later the same afternoon the Italians made a further attempt to break through our covering forces and destroy the convoy. This time the Italians included at least one battleship. Our forces carried out a most gallant and determined daylight torpedo attack on the strong enemy forces and one Italian battleship was seen to be hit by at least one torpedo. After this the enemy ships withdrew and there was no further attempt on the part of the Italians to interfere with the passage of our convoy. The arrival of the convoy at Malta was delayed by a sudden fierce gale which sprang up, thus giving the enemy air forces an oportunity to carry out a series of heavy air attacks on the convoy on Monday. The worst that the enemy could do, however, did not prevent the most important supplies reaching Malta. It is known that enemy claims to have sunk British warships are without foundation, although one merchant ship was sunk.