HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 May 1941, Page 5

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL

ATTACKS ON ENEMY SUPPLY SHIPS FOUR SUNK LAST WEEK. ANOTHER FOUR IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. May 20. lii widespread attacks on enemy shipping by units of the British Navy and the Royal Air Force during Hie week ended May 19 at least eight supply ships, totalling’ 40.500 tons, were destroyed or irreparably damaged. Four of these ships, totalling 17.500 tons, are known to have been sunk and the remainder were burning so badly when last seen that it is hardly possible for them to have been anything but total losses. In addition, during a highly-success-ful attack by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm on an enemy convoy in the Mediterranean. when a merchant ship of 8000 tons blew up with a violent explosion, an enemy destroyer was hit and clouds of smoke were seen to pour from it. Daily attacks have been made on enemy shipping off the Dutch and French coasts and in harbours occupied by the enemy. Perhaps the most daring of these took place on May 14. when a single aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked a convoy of seven ships off the Dutch coast from a very low .level, and in spite of heavy firing returned home safely after having torpedoed and sunk a 5000-ton supply vessel in the convoy. On the following day a convoy off the Frisian Islands was attacked by aircraft of the Bomber Command and three supply ships of 5000, 4000 and 2000 tons respectively were bombed and left burning.