GREAT ODDS FACED

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21688, 26 March 1942, Page 5

GREAT ODDS FACED

ROYAL NAVY UPHOLDS TRADITION ITALIAN FLEET PUT TO FLIGHT BATTLESHIP HIT BY TORPEDO AND SHELL LONDON, March 25 The full story of the action in which the convoy to Malta was saved recently when attacked by a strong Italian Fleet adds lustre to the wonderful traditions of the Royal Navy. Despite an overwhelming superiority of forces and fire-power the Italian Fleet was put to flight, with very few casualties among the British personnel and small damage to the warships. The British Squadron consisted of five light cruisers and destroyers and it sighted an Italian force of one of the latest battleships (the Littorio, of 35,000 tons), two heavy cruisers, four other cruisers and destroyers. Dashing straight to the attack the British destroyers closed to within three miles and saw a torpedo strike the Littorio amidships. The battleship was also hit and set afire by shell. One cruiser was also severely damaged and hits scored on another cruiser and three destroyers. Next day over 150 bombers were employed by the enemy in an attack on the convoy, but failed to secure a hit. The day following another aerial attack resulted in one merchantman being hit and sunk and a destroyer being hit by a bomb, but it reached port.

Italian Admission The Littorio is armed with nine 15in. guns, 12 6in. guns and 12 3.5in. guns, and in addition has 40 smaller weapons for use against aircraft. She also carries three aeroplanes. The Italians admit that the Littorio was hit but say that it was not damaged. Another ship of the Littorio class was torpedoed and completely disabled at Taranto in November, 1940, during a daring attack on that port by units of the Fleet Air Arm. Mr ChurcJ' l V*’s Tribute The Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, has sent the following telegram to the Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean: “I shall be glad if you will convey to Admiral Vian and all who sailed with him the admiration which I feel at this resolute and brilliant action by which the Malta convoy was saved. That one of the most powerful and modern battleships afloat, attended by two heavy and four light cruisers and a destroyer flotilla, should have been routed and put to flight, with severe torpedo and gunfire injury, in broad daylight by a force of five British light cruisers and destroyers, constitutes a naval episode of the highest distinction and entitles all the ranks and ratings concerned, and above all their commander, to the compliments of the British nation. Great Achievement It is pointed out in naval circles that the arrival of important supplies at Malta in the convoy which was so strenuously attacked Will greatly strengthen the island’s resistance to the present heavy air attacks. The successful arrival of these stores is an achievement of no small difficulty in Jhe face of the strong enemy forces which are able to operate from nearby bases on both sides of the Mediterranean. It is especially admirable in view of the British inability to provide fighter aircraft to cover the whole way since the loss of Benghazi. Note is taken of the Italian claims to have sunk or damaged numbers of British warships and merchantmen, which, as usual, turned out to be wildly exaggerated. The naval operations in the Mediterranean took place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, says the Admiralty communique which tates: “As already announced these operations had as their object the passage of a convoy carrying important supplies to Malta, the object of which was successfully achieved. “The weather conditions on Sunday were very bad and air reconnaissance could not be relied on. Early on Sunday afternoon an enemy force consisting of four cruisers was sighted to the northward. The enemy was at once attacked by our light cruisers and destroyers under tne command of Rear-Admiral Vian, D. 5.0., and the enemy was driven off without having inflicted any damage to our convoy, its escorts or its covering force. “Soon after 4.50 p.m. on Sunday Rear-Admiral Vian again sighted the enemy. This time they consisted of one battleship of the Littorio class, two heavy eight-inch gun cruisers, four other cruisers accompanied by destroyers. “Despite the great disparity of force Rear-Admiral Vian at once led his light cruisers and destroyers to the attack in order to drive them away from the convoy. “During the brilliant action which followed our destroyers delivered a torpedo attack on the enemy closing the powerful enemy squadron to a range of three miles, before firing their torpedoes. In pressing home this attack the destroyers received valuable support from our light cruisers. This determined attack against a greatly superior force not only inflicted serious damage on the enemy but threw him into confusion and forced him to retire without having made contact with our convoy. “The Littorio class battleship was seen to be hit amidships by a torpedo. She was also hit by gunfire from our cruisers and set on fire aft. Severe damage was also inflicted upon one enemy cruiser and a second cruiser was hit. “By the skilful use of smokescreens our force avoided serious damage. Seme damage, however, was sufferc J by one of our destroyers but the casualties were not heavy. “After this action the Italian fleet made no further attempt to intercept our convoy and withdrew towards its bases. “Throughout Sunday our convoy, its escorts and its covering force were subjected to continuous bombing attacks. During the afternoon, while our light forces were engaged with the enemy fleet, these air attacks increased in intensity and it is estimated that about 150 bombers were being used. No damage or casualties were caused to any of His Majesty’s ships or to the convoy by any of those heavy air attacks. Details of losses inflicted upon the

HITLER’S DEMANDS BULGARIA AND RUMANIA MAY ATTACK RUSSIA (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) ■ LONDON, March 24 Signs are accumulating that Hitler is doing his utmost to bring the countries of south-eastern Europe into his plans for a spring offensive against Russia. The Daily Mail’s correspondent on the German frontier states that the German Embassy at Ankara announced that von Papen and King Boris of Bulgaria, who journeyed to Berlin in the same train, will discuss with Hitler the effects of the coming Bulgarian participation in the war against Russia. This, if correct, is the first confirmation from German official quarters that Bulgaria will participate in the attack against her traditional friend, Russia. It is believed in Ankara, however, that King Boris will plead to Hitler the necessity of keeping his troops at home, not only because of fears of a Turkish attack, but because Bulgaria, like Hungary, is anxious to preserve her strength in order to hold gains. Boris, indeed, is stated to have demobilised the equivalent of two divisions, thereby making all divisions below strength, in the hope of convincing the Germans that the Bulgarian army is useless to them. Both Hungary and Rumania, according to Axis sources in Ankara, are believed to have originally promised Hitler 300,000 men for the spring campaign. It remains to be seen whether the promise will be fulfilled. Rumania is equally unwilling as the others, feeling that she has not yet been compensated for territorial sacrifices already made on Germany’s insistence. NAVY FOR INDIA SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMME (United Press Assn. — Elec. Tel. coDrrirnW NEW DELHI, March 24 “India should have had its own navy long ago,” declared Vice-Ad-miral Herbert Fitzherbert. He added that corvettes, anti-sub-marine trawlers and patrol boats are being built in Calcutta, Bombay, and Karachi, and India will later produce cruisers. "We want a cruiser squadron lor trade protection,” said Vice-Admiral Fitzherbert. “I have wanted a big shipbuilding industry in India. Now, thank goodness, we have one yard started. India now, for the first time, is making propelling machinery.” BRITISH NAVY APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 24 Vice-Admiral E. C. Tait has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Africa station, in succession to acting-Vice-Admiral Willis, who was recently appointed to a sea command. Rear - Admiral William WakeWalker has been appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and controller, in succession to ViceAdmiral Sir Bruce Fraser, who will shortly receive an appointment at sea. ESCAPE FROM CAMP GERMANS IN BRITAIN (United Press Assn.—tier. Tel. Copyright) * (Received March 26, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, March 25 A countrywide search is going on for 11 German war prisoners who escaped from a north-west England internment camp. Five of the escapees are naval ratings, five airmen, and one a soldier. Only one speaks English. This is the fourth break-out of this camp in recent months. enemy air forces have not yet been received. Heavy Air Attacks “The convoy was again heavily attacked from the air on Monday. During these series of attacks one ship of the convoy was hit and subsequently sank. One destroyer was also hit but it has since reached harbour. The enemy renewed his air attacks on Tuesday morning but without inflicting any further damage. “That the very large scale of the air effort employed by the enemy achieved so little success is due to tne close co-operation of the Royal Air Force, the most effective antiaircraft fire of the convoy and its escorts and also to the fine seamanship and steadiness of the ships in toe convoy. “These operations in which our* light forces fought off and severely damaged a greatly superior enemy 1 and repulsed continual heavy eir at-* tacks constitute a notable ment.’* ■