CHASED TO TORTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 243, 11 September 1940, Page 8

CHASED TO TORTS.

ITALIAN WARSHIPS.

AT SEA, Sept. 7

For more than a week I have been aboard a British warship successfully crossing the Mediterranean to meet the new naval reinforcements which Mr Churchill in the House of Commons yesterday, “doubles our strength, in the Mediterranean,” writes James Aldridge, correspondent of the Sunday Sun (Sydney) with the British Fleet in the Mediterranean. We steamed for six days up and down under Mussolini’s nose, sailed south around Sicily made three journeys through the supposedly Italian controlled Aegean Sea, escorted a merchant convoy, and finally combed Italian air bases in the Dodecanese Islands.

All this occurred without our meeting a-single Italian warship, the only Italian reply being repeated unsuccessful bombing attacks, including the first dive-bombing made by the Italians which was equally unsuccessful. Only once was the Italian l'lect sighted near Italy by our reconnaissance aeroplanes, but the moment we altered course they retreated towards the harbour. I was on the admiral’s bridge as, under cover of darkness, wo sneaked through an area supposed to he infested” by Italian submarines and motor torpedo boats; hut none came to meet us. Later we made contact with the first reinforcement ships from England, and they had just bombed an Italian coast town with military objectives. Nobody was happier than the members of the existing fleet to sight these big new ships. It was astonishing to see so many ships. We left the main fleet at night to steam ahead, and next day we met Italian bombers. They were flying about 8000 ft. above and came out of the sun, dropping a stick of heavy bombs, which landed 100 yards off. ’Then c-ainc Italy’s first dive-bdmbing attack the ’planes hurtling towards the ship from the sun. They dropped their bombs, straightened out, and flew low along the water, with the whole of the ships’ guns firing at them. The bombers disappeared behind a screen of smoke, and the next attack was made from a high level. [ saw bombs leave a plane and tried to count them as they were apparently falling right upon us. They came over quickly, and, in terrific bursts, landed on the port side as the captain shouted orders to swing the ship. The aeroplanes returned, and this time hundreds of bombs seemed to fall, making a noise like a train letting off steam. A big gun, normally used only for naval action, was elevated, and sent a great flash amid the Italian ’planes, which must have been peppered with shrapnel. We later picked up a convoy of merchantmen, and stood by while the main fleet steamed to the Dodecanese Islands, and successfully shelled Scarpanlo, destroying parts of the barracks, harbours and airports.