ITALY WEAKENED

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21758, 18 June 1942, Page 3

ITALY WEAKENED

ONLY ONE HEAVY CRUISER (Official Wireless) (Received June 18, noon) RUGBY, June 17 It is not yet possible to obtain a balanced account of the naval and air operations connected with the British convoy movements in the Mediterranean in the past few days. The Admiralty, for obvious reasons, has confined itself to stating the enemy losses. However, sufficient has been made public to indicate that certain supplies succeeded in reaching Malta and Tobruk in spite of almost continuous enemy attacks. The only report about British losses released as yet have been the Italian claims, which are officially described as without foundation and even fantastic. The facts issued in London show that the Italians definitely lost one heavy cruiser and two destroyers and that two battleships, two cruisers and at least one destroyer were hit in various attacks. It is further pointed out authoritatively that this loss, i coming after many previous ones, probably leaves only one heavy cruiser in the whole Italian fleet. It is not believed that Italy is building any more of this class. An interesting political aspect of this situation is the alteration in the strength of the Italian fleet in comparison with the Vichy-controlled fleet. Further Attack on Battleships The two Kalian battleships, escorted by four destroyers, were again attacked by our torpedo aircraft on June 15 and 16. The enemy formation put up a heavy smoke-screen but a hit was scored on the leading battleship. A Middle East communique states: Further details now available of the air fighting during the action in the Central Mediterranean on June 16 show that our fighters shot down at least 11 enemy machines and severely damaged many others whicn are unlikely to have regained their bases. In addition in the 24 hours ended at mid-day on June 16 our fighters shot down three enemy machines over Malta.