CAUGHT & SUNK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1940, Page 6

CAUGHT & SUNK

GREEK TANKER WITH OIL FOR ITALIANS MORE INVENTED ENEMY CLAIMS. COMPLETE FAILURE OF AIR ATTACK. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, July 31. An Admiralty communique states: — “The Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean reports that the Greek tanker Hermione, under charter to the Italian Government, carrying 300 tons of petrol and 200 tons of lubricating oil for the Italian forces in the Dodecanese Islands, was intercepted in the Aegean Sea by British naval forces on Sunday evening. “Soon after the character of the ship and the contraband nature of her cargo had been established, a heavy Italian air attack on our forces developed. The commander of our forces was accordingly compelled to sink the Hermione by gunfire, after the captain and crew had been removed. The weather was fine and the crew, who stated that they were in no need of assistance, proceeded in boats to land, which was not far distant. “The air attack on our forces presumably has given rise to highly-col-oured Italian reports of a battle between Italian aircraft and British warships in which, it is claimed, several British warships sustained direct hits and severe damage. In fact no damage or casualties were sustained by our forces. —which provides justification of the Italian report of the accuracy of the anti-aircraft fire of our ships.” ITALIAN PLANE SHOT DOWN. Another Admiralty communique states: “Two Sea Gladiator aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm intercepted three Italian Savoias 79 aircraft in the Mediterranean on Monday. One of the Italian machines was shot down in flames. A second was seen to be badly hit and it is considered unlikely that it regained its base. One of our machines made a forced landing in the sea. The pilot was picked up unhurt.”