SMASHING BLOWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 April 1941, Page 5

SMASHING BLOWS

STRUCK BY THE NAVY > Heavy Bombardment of Shipping at Tripoli TANKER AND SUPPLY VESSELS TORPEDOED AT SEA INTERCEPTED BY, THE FLEET AIR ARM LONDON, April 22. In a naval bombardment of Tripoli and other operations in the Mediterranean heavy toll has been taken of enemy shipping. Four enemy ships have been torpedoed at sea (one of them off the coast of Norway and the others in the Mediterranean) and seven others, including a destroyer, have been shelled in Tropoli, by the big guns of the Mediterranean Fleet and bombed by the Fleet Air Arm and the R.A.F. An Admiralty communique states that three enemy ships, a tanker of 10,000 tons, a supply ship of 6,000 tons and an ammunition ship of 7,000 tons were caught at sea by the Fleet Air Arm while carrying supplies for the enemy in the Balkans. All three were struck by torpedoes and the ammunition ship blew up with a tremendous explosion. One plane is missing. Mr Churchill, speaking in the House of Commons, said aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm intercepted five German troopcarrying planes and shot down four in flames. He would not deal with the position in Libya, stating that it was not appropriate at the present time. The naval bombardment of Tripoli was carried out at dawn yesterday by heavy and light units of the British Fleet. Six enemy transports or supply ships and one destroyer were hit by heavy guns. Many targets on shore were set on fire by planes of the sea and air forces. The fire of the coastal batteries was ineffective. The R.A.F., in extensive raids on enemy bases in North Africa, inflicted great damage and heavy casualties on the enemy personnel. BATTLE IN DESSIE AREA The Italian northern army in Abyssinia yesterday turned round and fought before Dessie. Enemy guns put up a heavy barrage on the main road, along' which British forces are advancing. The enemy occupies strong defence positions on a semi-circular mountain ridge commanding a straight stretch of road across a plateau.