ALL-ROUND SUCCESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1940, Page 6

ALL-ROUND SUCCESS

CLAIMED BY ITALIANS NAVAL AND LAND OPERATIONS. ALLEGED SINKING OF BRITISH CRUISER. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. An Italian communique states: “Italian destroyers attacked British naval forces from Malta on the night of October 11 and sank an enemy cruiser, probably of the Neptune class and damaged other British units, which made off. The Italian losses were two torpedo-boats and a destroyer. A great part of the Italian crews were saved. “In the early hours of the following morning, Italian air formations intensely bombarded enemy units, achieving notable results in spite of violent anti-aircraft fire from British ships and the intervention of British fighters, which took of! from a British aircraft-carrier. The latter was hit astern and a British heavy cruiser was damaged. Two British fighters and one Italian were shot down. “In North Africa, light Italian columns, having advanced 23 miles east of Sidi Barrani, clashed with small British armoured car and tank units and repulsed them. British air raids on Bardia and on the ports of Derna and Tobruk caused slight damage. In East Africa Italian patrols repulsed enemy motorised units making for the Eritrean frontier.”