NAVAL ATTACK ON RHODES
ITALIANS TAKEN BY SURPRISE
(Rec. 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 15. A British naval squadron under the command of Rear-Admiral P. L. Vian, D. 5.0., bombarded Rhodes, the chief Italian base in the Dodecanese. The attack was carried out early on Thursday morning, lasted 12 minutes and took the Italians completely by surprise. As the warships sailed away fires could be seen burning along the waterfront of the town of Rhodes. . Reuter’s correspondent with the squadron says the timing of the action and air and sea co-operation were perfect. The whole operation had the Vian touch. Planes spotted for the warships and dropped flares. Several salvoes hit the town before the shore batteries replied. Several shells from the batteries passed over the warships uncomfortably low. Some salvoes burst close, but the squadron suffered no losses. The first sign of life from Rhodes came at 11 p.m. on Wednesday as the squadron was steaming along the coast. Streams of tracer bullets shot up as Italian anti-aircraft guns vainly sought British planes. The worst moment came half an hour before the warships were off the town of Rhodes. Two searchlights suddenly flicked on and dipped across the sea. They seemed to pause when they fell on the warships, then inexplicably they swung up again. The squadron began shelling at 1 a.m. Waterfront buildings and a large ship stood out clearly. After pounding the town the warships silently raced away. Reconnaissance planes trailed the squadron on Friday, but did not attack.
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Southland Times, Issue 24824, 17 August 1942, Page 5
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251NAVAL ATTACK ON RHODES Southland Times, Issue 24824, 17 August 1942, Page 5
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