IN CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1941, Page 5

IN CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN

Italian Destroyer Sunk and Twelve Enemy Aircraft Destroyed THREE BRITISH WARSHIPS DAMAGED IMPORTANT CONVOY TAKEN SAFELY TO GREECE In a naval clash in the Mediterranean, the 8.8. C. states, an Italian destroyer was sunk, twelve aircraft, either Italian or German, were destroyed and three British warships were damaged. An Admiralty communique states that naval forces operating in the central Mediterranean, protecting the passage of a convoy, on the morning of Friday last sighted two Italian destroyers. One destroyer was sunk, but the other managed to escape. Later H.M.S. Gallant was damaged by mine or torpedo, but has arrived in harbour. German and Italian aircraft, working from Italian bases and including a number of divebombers, made great efforts to break up the convoy. H.M.S. Industrious was hit and received some damage and suffered some casualties. One British cruiser, H.M.S. Southampton, was also hit and suffered casualties. Twelve enemy aircraft were shot down and others were damaged. The passage of the convoy was carried out according to plan. The ships were taking important material to Greece and reached their destination safely. H.M.S. Industrious’ is one of Britain's latest aircraftcarriers and was completed two years ago. The cruiser Southampton is a ship of 9.000 tons. The total of German and Italian planes destroyed in Italy, the Mediterranean and North Africa from Friday last to Sunday was 27.