THRILLING STORY OF TARANTO RAID

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 44, 15 November 1940, Page 7

THRILLING STORY OF TARANTO RAID

Smashing Blow At Italy’s Navy IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN BALANCE OF POWER '

British And American Press Hail Great Coup

The story of how, in the bright moonlight of the night of Armistice Day, machines of the Fleet took off from the aircraft-carriers Eagle and Illustrious and bombed devastating effect the main units of the Italian fleet as they lay at anchor ataran naval base has thrilled the hearts of people throughout the Empire and the world By crippling two, probably three, of Italy’s six capital ships, the action has decisive y affected Xbaknee o/power in the Mediterranean and, in the words of Mr. Church.ll, will have reactions on the naval situation m all parts of the globe. Both in Great Britain and the United States newspapers hail the Fleet Air Arm s as a success likely to have far-reaching effects. The Greeks are overjoye . (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November I I. On the niaht of November 11-12, says the Admiralty, aircraft of the Meet Air Arm Un the m o ht or INO 7 establisbed by photographic reconcarried out an attack, the resu battleship of the Littorio class is so badly down by naissance. It is now known tha . and die has a heavy list to starboard. One the bows that the forecastle is un er wa el^ een beached and her stern, up to and including SSA't ATAUZ iXvily listed to starboard. k has not yet been to the f £ with « but that rnlhlfnnt ATtlo eXs M e Hated to starboard and surrounded by oi! fuel. ‘ flZZuxiliaries are lying with their sterns under water.

and two neet dUAuia>*«> -j => . . The total strength of the Italian battle fleet was six battleships dass. which had Italian battleships now remain effective _ “It will be recalled.” states the Admiralty, that an Italian com n,unique issued on November 12 admitted that one badlv dama<>ed The Italian communique also claimed that six of o down and that three more were pro bah y t shot dow. In fact, two onlv of our aircraft are missing, and it is noted enemv claim that part of the crews were taken prisoner. “The Mediterranean Fleet has also continued to harass the Italian communications with their armies in Libya. On the night o November 9-10 a successful bombardment was carried out on Sidi Ba . The fire was returned by the shore batteries, but our ships sustained no damage and there were no casualties. . IH nel-<vl “'lt is also reported that one of our submarines recently attacked a convov of two supply ships escorted by a-destroyer. As a resa t a heavily-laden ship of 3000 tons was sunk. A second ship was certain!) damaged and probably sunk. r t r A later communique reports another success against the Italians. It savs: “Squadrons of our light forces, operating on the mam hue of Italian communications, across the Straits of Otranto between Ita y and Albania, on the night of November 11-12, intercepted oft the Albanian port of Valona an enemy convoy oi lour supply ships, escorted bv two destroyers. Of the supply ships, one was sunk outright, two set seriously on fire and almost certainly sunk and a fourth was damaged bitt it succeeded in escaping under cover of a smoke screen. Both escorting destroyers escaped at high speed tinder cover of smoke but one was hit and damaged. No damage or casualties were sustained bv our forces.”