SEEKING THE ENEMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 1941, Page 5

SEEKING THE ENEMY

BRITISH MEDITERRANEAN FLEET

AN UNCHALLENGED PASSAGE.

ADMIRAL’S STIRRING SIGNAL, (British Official Wireless.* RUGBY’, February 5. A Press correspondent aboard a British battleship with the Mediterranean Fleet states: “Our powerful eastern Mediterranean battle fleet has once again put to sea to try conclusions with the enemv.

“Taking up the gauntlet flung down by the Luftwaffe on the decks of the aircraft-carrier Illustrious in the epic sea duel last month, the Commanding Officer. Admiral Sir A. Cunningham, issued a stirring signal to all ships, saying: ‘ltalian or German, these pests must be shot out of the sky.’ but the enemy have failed to hinder our activities in any way.

“Our units, which have a highlyimportant mission in the central Mediterranean. and our light forces along the Libyan coast have maintained uninterrupted operations. Practically the only incident has been some mines which came so close that we sometimes had to alter our course sharply to avoid them.

“We have completed our covering operations uneventfully and have exercised well within range of enemy aircraft without producing a reply from the enemy. Our fighter patrols have possession of the sky. “Soon we shall be back again at our base for a brief respite, somewhat disappointed with the laet of action but with undiminished faith in our Mediterranean domination. We had hopes of meeting the enemy early in the voyage when an enemy spotting plane was believed to have reported our presence. We were then in the neighbourhood of 'bomb alley,’ the scene of intense bombings in the past, and the news was broadcast throughout the ship. Everyone was on the alert; the morning, however, dragged on without any attack."