SUBMARINE RAID AT ALGIERS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 5

SUBMARINE RAID AT ALGIERS

Italian Midget Claim (Received January 19, 7 p.m.) LONDON, January 18. The Italians claim to have made a successful attack on Allied shipping in Algiers harbour with a new type of baby submarine assault boat. A Rome communique says: “Our assault units on the night of January 12 penetrated Algiers harbour. They badly damaged a cruiser, sank two large steamers and left another large steamer listing. In spite of a violent enemy counterattack nearly all the assault force returned safely.” Rome radio says that the new assault boat is shaped like a torpedo and manned by two men, both of whom must be under'3o years of age. The power is derived from an engine, the hum of wlneli is so low that it is practically unrecordable by the most sensitive hydrophone. When the submarines forced the harbour entrance the crew placed explosives near the most vulnerable parts of the ships. x The "Daily Express” says that the Italians used their “grille.” Two were first tried out in October, 1940, against Gibraltar. They hit nothing. In July, 1941, they tried to get into Vyietta Harbour, Malta, but gunfire from the shore blew them all up.