HUGE LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1941, Page 5

HUGE LOSSES

OF ENEMY SHIPPING IN MEDITERRANEAN ON WAY TO NORTH AFRICA ADMIRAL CUNNINGHAM’S SURVEY. RESULTS OF SEA & AIR ATTACKS (British Official Wireless.)RUGBY, October 25. “It is a wonder to me that Italian merchantmen arc still willing to go to sea i'n view of the extraordinary losses they have sustained, but probably they are driven, to it,” said Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, in an interview today.

“The enemy losses have substantially increased above previous months’ losses, when they were estimated at 20 per cent, of the sailings.’’ According to another message, Admiral Cunningham stated that in the later period, .30 per cent, of all ships leaving Italy for Libya had been destroyed or damaged en route. Another 20 per cent, had been damaged by air raids on Libyan ports, so that not more than 50 per cent, of the supplies and reinforcements sent forward had reached North Africa intact.

Admiral Cunningham said he estimated that the Italian fleet, having had time to carry out repairs and taking into account new launchings, probably now consisted of four or five battleships, two or probably four eightinch gun cruisers, up to 14 six-inch gun cruisers, and numerous destroyers, the total of which it was impossible to estimate. The Italian submarine losses were about 33 per cent.

Authoritative naval circles in London yesterday disclosed that during August and September 38 enemy ships were sunk and 21 probably sunk, and 12 hit in the Mediterranean by British torpedoes and naval aircraft.

The following successes were scored by submarines in August: Five enemy supply ships and two schooners sunk, and one cruiser, one floating dock, one liner, one tanker and one auxiliary vessel hit. Naval aircraft sank nine vessels and probably sank a further 11. In September, submarines accounted for three liners, three supply ships, three schooners, two tankers, one auxiliary motor craft, and' one sailing vessel sunk, and two supply vessel's one liner, one transport, and one minelayer probably sunk. Naval aircraft sank nine ships and probably sank a further five. In addition,' submarines- in September hit one liner, one cruiser, one schooner, two supply vessels and two self-propelled lighters. These successes do not include any vessels sunk or damaged by the R.A.F.