BRITISH CONVOY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1941, Page 5

BRITISH CONVOY

TAKEN THROUGH CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN IN FACE OF PERSISTENT ATTACKS. ONE MERCHANT SHIP LOST. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 29. British warships have escorted a convoy through the Central Mediterranean in the face of persistent attack by enemy planes. The convoy reached its destination. Ono merchant ship was damaged and had to be sunk by our own gunlire after towing became impossible. There were no casualties. Ono of the escorting warships was slightly damaged but its fighting efficiency was not affected except for a slight reduction in speed. ADMIRALTY REPORT OBJECTIVE OF OPERATIONS ACHIEVED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 0.35 a.m.) RtIGBY, September 29. An Admiralty communique states: "Naval operations recently have been in progress in the Mediterranean. These- had as an object the passing of an important convoy through the Central Mediterranean. Despite persistent attacks by an enemy air force, the objective of the operations was achieved and the convoy reached its destination. although one ship of the convoy was damaged and subsequently had to be sunk by our forces, as towing would have prove impracticable. There were im casualties in this merchant ship. “One of the escorting warships suffered some damage, but. except for a slight reduction in speed, her fighting efficiency was unimpaired."