A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 44, 15 November 1940, Page 6

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Great Naval Offensive ITALY HARD HIT The full significance of the stunning blow struck at the Italian Navy ’by the Fleet Air Arm was given in the statements made by Mr. Churchill and the First Lord of the Admiralty. "This result,” said the Prime Minister, "while affecting decisively the balance of naval power in the Mediterranean, also carries with it reactions ou the naval situation in other quarters of the globe.” The First Lord of the Admiralty, in bis broadcast, said that "not only had the situation in the Mediterranean been transformed in a single naval action, but the balance of Sea Power throughout the oceans of the world had been decisively altered.”

These most precise and emphatic statements made by Great Britain’s most responsible Ministers convey to the whole world that there has been an overnight change in the naval situation of tremendous importance. The statements convey not only a great historical fact, but a plain warning which cannot be ignored in the Pacific. Great Britain has now a great preponderance of naval strength in respect of Germany and Italy and can spare a considerable force of major ships to meet emergencies if and as they arise elsewhere. Change In “Our Sea” Though Mussolini doubtless visualized otherwise, Italy’s wanton attack on Greece has wrought a remarkable change in the strategical situation in the Mediterranean of which the British naval and air forces in "Our Sea” have been quick to take advantage. While the Greek military forces were meeting and checking the Italian onslaught from Albania, the Mediterranean Fleet and the Royal Air Force were establishing bases m Crete which virtually halved the distance from Alexandria to Italy’s southern navai bases. Suda Bay, on the north-west coast of Crete (a favourite anchorage of the British Mediterranean Fleet in peace time), is barely -150 miles from Taranto, which lies at the head of the Gulf of Taranto inside the "heel" of Italy, Taranto, which is at the apex of a railway triangle of which Brindisi and Bari on the Adriatic coast form the base, is a place of great strategic -importance, and ranks as the most important naval base in Italy after Spezia. The naval anchorage at Taranto, well-sheltered by a small island, has an area of 6325 acres and an average depth of 36 feet. British Naval Offensive The Fleet Air Arm attack on the Italian battle fleet was a brilliantly successful blow in a great British naval offensive operation carried out during the night of November 11-12. While the British aircraft-carriers Illustrious and Eagle were launching their bombers and torpedo-carrying planes against Taranto, a squadron of light’cruisers entered the Strait of Otranto and made a lightning attack on the main line of coiuniuiiicatioiis between Italy aud Albania. Off the Albanian port of Vaioiia the cruisers inlercepted a convoy of supply ships escorted by two destroyers. One supplv ship was sunk outright, two were set on lire and almost certainly sunk, and the fourth ship was damaged but made good her escape under cover of a smoke screen. The Italian tlesiroyers. one of which was damaged, did not attempt lo emulate the .Jervis Bay. but cleared out at their utmost speed. Tin? supplies of the Italian armies in Albania have suffered severely, nut only from the onslaught of the Royal Navy, but also from heavy bombing attacks carried out by the R.A.F. and lhe Greek Air Force. R.A.F. bombers. Hying doubtless from Crete, liave plastered military objectives in Brindisi aud Bari, and caused greal havoc in Valona and Durazzo. lhe only workable ports for supply ships on Hie Albanian coast.

■II is obvious that great issues hang upon a successful offensive by sea against Italy. Mussolini is cimiliiilled lo two considerable military operations overseas, one in Libya anil tlie other in Albania. His communicat ions by sea, the only means of supply, are in grave peril since the British naval forces can uow base themselves irom Crete close on tlie Italian sea think, it can be regarded as a certainty that further heavy blows will be struck by Admiral Cunningham, and in the very near future. The Italian Battleships

Tlie battleships of the Litterio class, one of which was badly damaged at Taranto, were tlie pride of tire Italian Navy. The Litterio and her sister ship. Vittorio Veneto (named after two Italian military victories of 19181, were completed late last year but tlie mouths occupied in trials before (hey were eommissioued for service indicated that they had not shown up fully satisfactorily. Measuring 774 feet in length by 103.8 feet in breadth they liave a standard displacement of 35,000 tons. Fitted with geared-turbine engines of 1'50.000 horsepower, they are reputed to liave a speed of 30 knots. The main armament of each ship comprises nine 15-ineh guns and they also mount twelve 6-inch guns and twelve 3.5-inch anti-aircraft gnus. Thov are fitted witli two catapults for iaiinehing the four aircraft carried in each ship. Two other battleships of similar design, the Roma and Impure. are under construction in Italy. The Conte di Cavour and her smtership Giulio Cesare wore originally built in 1911-15. with two other battleships of tlie same class. The two mimed were largely reconstructed and completely modernized about two years ago. They were lengthened by more than 50 feet and re-engined and rearmed. They are now titled with turbine engines of 90.000 horse-power which liave increased their speed to -> knots. Their present armament is 10 12.6-ineh guns, 12 4.7-ineh guns, eight 3.9-inch anti-aircraft guns, amt 20 machine-guns. They also eairy lour aircraft. British Aircraft Carriers

A feature of special interest in the account of tiie attack ou Taranto is the locution of lire names of the two aircraft-carriers employed m the operation—the Illustrious ami rhe The Illustrious, which was launched in April 1939. at the works ot A ickersArmstrongs, Ltd.. Barrow-in-Furness, was the .second of seven new carriers in the naval rearmament programme, and closely resembles the first, the famous Ark Royal. Three more, the Victorious, Formidable and Indomitable were launched last year. The Victorious has probably been launched since the war started, and another, whose name has not been disclosed, well on tlie way. The Eagle, a vessel of 22,000 tors, was originally laid down as a battle!dp for the Chilean Navy. She was taken over by the Admiralty during the last war. but was subsequently converted into an aircraft-carrier.— (S.DAV.'i