GALLANT ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 March 1942, Page 3

GALLANT ACTION

* PROTECTION OF CONVOY IN MEDITERRANEAN POWERFUL ITALIAN SQUADRON PUT TO FLIGHT BY BRITISH LIGHT CRUISERS. ENEMY BATTLESHIP TORPEDOED AMIDSHIPS. LONDON, March 25. Further details of the Malta, convoy operations were issued tonight. In tackling greatly superior enemy forces our squadron showed enterprise and daring reminiscent of the brilliant work of our cruisers against the pocket-battleship Graf Spee early in the war. Five light cruisers and destroyers were pitted against one of Italy’s newest battleships, accompanied by two heavy cruisers, four light cruisers and destroyers. In spite of the great disparity of forec our units at once attacked. Our destroyers launched a determined torpedo attack on the enemy, approaching to a distance of only three miles from the enemy ships before firing their torpedoes. The battleship was seen to be hit amidships by a torpedo. She was also hit by gunfire from our cruisers and set on fire. Severe damage was also caused to one enemy cruiser and a second one was hit. One of our cruisers and three destroyers suffered some damage, but the casualties were not heavy. After this action the Italian warships made no further attempts to intercept our convoy and withdrew to their bases.

Throughout the day the convoy was under constant bomb attack from the air. It is estimated that about 150 bombers were being used. No damage or casualties were suffered by any of our warships or ships in the convoy in these attacks. Details of the losses inflicted on enemy aircraft have not yet been received. The next day the enemy renewed air attacks on the convoy. One ship was hit and later sank and one destroyer was also hit but reached harbour. Other attacks were made on the following morning but no damage war. caused. A message of congratulation has been sent to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, by Mr Churchill on the brilliant achievement of the British force commanded by Rear-Admiral Philip Vian.

HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES IN AIR ATTACKS ON MALTA. GUNS & FIGHTERS BOTH TAKE TOLL. LONDON, March 25. German air losses in attacks on shipping and aerodromes in Malta during the past 48 hours are reported in a message from Malta. R.A.F. fighters destroyed three enemy bombers and two fighters, and the anti-aircraft defences accounted for three bombers. Other enemy aircraft were severely damaged. Our fighters suffered no losses. R.A.F. bombers raided objectives in Greece and Crete on Monday night. In Cyrenaica enemy targets at Benghazi and in the Martuba-Tmimi area were attacked. MET & REPELLED LARGE-SCALE ATTACKS ON MALTA.

SOME CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 25. A message from Malta states that a German Air Force yesterday carried out a series of large-scale and determined attacks on the harbour and aerodromes. In the first attack on the harbour all the bombs fell into the sea. An hour and a half later, these tactics were repeated and nearly all the bombs fell into the sea. In an afternoon attack on an aerodrome the enemy used a larger number of Junkers 87s. Two Messerschmitts 109 s were shot down by Spitfires, while three Junkers were destroyed by antiaircraft fire. 1 There were some civilian casualties.

MR CHURCHILL’S PRAISE RESOLUTE & BRILLIANT ACTION. NAVAL EPISODE OF HIGHEST DISTINCTION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, March 25. The Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) has sent the following telegram to the Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean (Admiral Sir A. Duncan): “I shall be glad if you will convey to Rear-Admiral Vian and all who sailed with him the admiration which I feel at the resolute and brilliant action by which the Malta convoy was saved. That one of the most powerful modern battleships afloat, attended by two heavy and four light cruisers and a destroyer flotilla, should have been routed and put to flight with severe torpedo and gunfire injury, m broad daylight, by a force of five British light, cruisers and destroyers, constitutes a naval episode of the highest distinction and entitles all ranks and ratings concerned, and above all their commander, to the compliments of the British nation.” It is pointed out in naval circles that the arrival of important supplies in Malta in the convoy which was so strenuously attacked will greatly strengthen the island’s resistance to the present heavy air attacks. The successful arrival of these stores is an achievement of no small difficulty it] the face of the strong enemy forces which were able to operate from nearby bases on both sides of the Mediterranean. It is especially admirable in view of the British inability to provide fighter aircraft to cover the whole way, since the loss of Benghazi. Note is taken of the Italian claims to have sunk or damaged numbers of British warships and merchantmen which, as usual, turned out to be wildly exaggerated.