BRITAIN STRIKES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 152, 8 September 1941, Page 6

BRITAIN STRIKES

WAR AGAINST SHIPPING

VITAL FACTOR IN STRATEGY

The destruction of 410,000 tons of Axis shipping in five weeks, announced a few days ago, is a reiiitirkable achievement, and a reminder that a ceaseless British offensive is being conducted at sen, week in and week out. Such Josses cannot fail to have an important effect on Axis organisation and supply".

This applies particularly to the Mediterranean, where in July A third of the total sinkings was obtained. 11l that region land-based planes Unci Units of the Fleet Air Arm are engaged in a joint assault on the enerny's supply lines. As recently as last Sunday Swordlisli aircraft disabled three vessels out of a convoy of live: and there have been many reports of raids by

bombers from North African stations.

The British authorities have repealed that our aerial strength in the Mediterranean theatre of war has been rapidly increasing. As a result of this new air strength is the toll inflicted on enemy shipping. At the same time, British Shipping movements arc aided. Since Mediterranean sinkings are Included in the British figures of losses, and since the totals have been much s less in the last two months, it follows that the Axis flir squadrons in the Mediterranean have failed to inflict losses commensurate with those sustained by their own shipping.

The /inal result is that the Axis plans to renew the North African fighting, now that the weather is Improving, must lie greatly hampered, the more so because July's loss of over 168,000 tons of shipping Is a high percentage of the total tonnage left to them in the Mediterranean. . The new offensive strength of Hie Allied air forces is thus a vital factor in Mediterranean strategy; deliveries of planes from America arc Increasing, and the United Stales is opening up the. direct route via West Africa.