ITALIAN CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1940, Page 6

ITALIAN CLAIMS

REITERATED IN SPITE OF DENIAL DAMAGE TO CAPITAL SHIPS ALLEGED. TALK OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) ROME, July 11. A communique states: “Further investigation proves beyond a doubt that during the action on Tuesday in the zone of the Balearic Islands, units of our aviation seriously damaged and set fire to the battleship Hood. The aircraft carrier Ark Royal was also directly hit on the deck by two large calibre bombs, as appears in photographs. Moreover, during the naval encounter which occurred in the lonean Sea. another British battleship was directly hit by two large calibre bombs. Further investigations are pending to ascertain the damage suffered by the enemy, both during these bombings and those carried out south of Crete. “The naval base at Malta once again-' was heavily bombed yesterday morning. Fires and explosions were seen, both at the arsenal and aboard ships in port. “Three enemy pursuit planes were shot down by our bombers. Two of our planes failed to return to their base.’' BRITISH REPLY REPORT FROM ADMIRAL IN COMMAND. < NO HITS, NO DAMAGE AND NO CASUALTIES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 11. The Admiralty announced this afternoon: “The Italian communique, issued this morning, states that H.M.S. Ark Royal sustained a direct hit with a bomb and that H.M.S. Hood was set on fire. A report has been received from the flag officer commanding the British forces concerned, saying that, although several bombs fell close to his ships, no direct hits were secured and there was no damage and no casualties were sustained.” It was this force, which .as stated in the Admiralty communique of Wednesday, destroyed four enemy aircraft and damaged seven others, three of which were unlikely to regain their base. LOSSES OF AIRMEN ITALIAN CASUALTY LIST. (Received This Day. 9.10 a.m.) ROME. July 11. It is officially stated that 76 aviators have been killed in action, 75 are missing and 103 have been wounded since the outbreak of war.