ATTACK ON CONVOY

Southland Times, Issue 24825, 18 August 1942, Page 5

ATTACK ON CONVOY

AXIS DECEIVED (Rec. 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 17. Admiral Sir Henry Harwood s strategy fooled the Axis tacticians who planned the attack against the Malta-bound convoy. The enemy, it is believed, knew the convoy had left Gibraltar, but it was not until it was within a few hours steaming ot its destination did he realize it was bound for Malta, and not Alexandria. , . ~ Admiral Harwood, by ordering the bomber attacks against four Italian cruisers at Navarino, the air and sea bombardment of Rhodes and increased Royal Air Force attacks on Libyan coast and air bases gave the impression to the enemy that the attacks were designed

to cripple his immediate striking power against the convoy as it neared Alexandria. The attacks compelled the Axis to maintain forces in the Eastern Mediterranean which might . temporarily have been diverted to increase the strength of the sea and air assault against the convoy. When the convoy entered the Sicilian Channel it expected to meet a holocaust of Stukas and heavy German bombers, but thanks to the presence of Spitfires from Malta the attack was not a quarter as hot as was thought possible. Magnificent work was also done by Fleet Air Arm fighters, which smashed up attack after attack. Hundreds of Axis planes attacked the convoy, but most, of the bombs exploded harmlessly in the sea.