ITALIAN NAVAL CRAFT RAIDING MALTA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1941, Page 5

ITALIAN NAVAL CRAFT RAIDING MALTA

Whole Inshore Force Apparently Wiped Out

NONE SUCCEED IN ENTERING HARBOUR

THREE ENEMY PLANES SHOT DOWN LONDON, July 27. In the first Italian attack on Malta from the sea, made at dawn yesterday, not a single unit of the inshore attacking’ force is known to have survived. Seventeen enemy vessels were definitely destroyed. Nine cf them were E-boats and eight-smaller torpedo-carrying craft. A belief that none of the latter survived is supported by the fact that an Italian communique speaks only of explosions seen from the sea. Shortly before 5 o’clock yesterday morning E-boats were engaged by the Malta land defences, off the harbour entrance. One blew up on being hit and four others were destroyed. It appears that the E-.boats were acting as a cover for smaller torpedo-carrying craft, which tried to break into the harbour. They were heavily engaged by the defences. Eight were either blown up or sunk and none succeeded in entering’ the harbour. Fighter planes pursued the remainder of the enemy craft, which tried to escape, and sank four am. damaged others. The fighters then encountered enemy aircraft, which tried to give the naval craft support. Three enemy planes were shot down into the sea. One R.A.F. fighter was lost but the pilot was saved.