AXIS SHIP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1942, Page 3

AXIS SHIP

SUNK BY SUBMARINE IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN. OTHER ENEMY VESSELS DAMAGED. LONDON, August 5. in the Mediterranean British naval and air forces have struck more blows at enemy sea communications. A British submarine has sunk a fully-laden Italian steamer of 800 tons and seriously damaged another enemy supply ship. Allied bombers, in an attack on shipping, hit at least one enemy vessel. Enemy shipping off Bardia was attacked and at Tobruk two ships were hit. SECOND SUPPLY VESSEL BADLY DAMAGED AND DRIVEN ASHORE. SUBMARINE ENGAGES BATTERIES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, August 5. The Admiralty states: :“Two further successes against the enemy’s supply routes in the Mediterranean were scored by one of our submarines. The submarine torpedoed and sank the Italian steamship Adda, of 800 tons, and succeeded in rescuing a number of survivors. The ship was fully laden. “The same submarine intercepted another enemy supply ship, which attempted to escape. She was therefore engaged by gunfire and severely damaged before she beached herself, under the protection of Italian coastal batteries, on the east coast of Sardinia. The submarine was engaged by these batteries, but was not hit and suffered no casualties or damage.”

MORE AIR ACTIVITY IN EGYPTIAN BATTLE AREA. TWO GERMAN FIGHTERS SHOT DOWN. LONDON, August 5. On the Egyptian battlefront yesterday there was more air activity than of late. Two German fighters were shot down yesterday and others were damaged. There were artillery exchanges in the northern and central areas yesterday, after a night of patrol activity all along the front. HEAVY DAMAGE EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES AT TOBRUK. MERSA MATRUH ALSO RAIDED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.2 a.m.) RUGBY, August 5. The increased air activity mentioned in today's Cairo communique is amplified by the R.A.F. Middle East News Service which states: During a heavy raid on Tobruk on Monday night a direct hit on a ship was followed by explosions and volumes of black smoke and the fire was visible fifty miles away. Another vessel in the Middle Harbour was set ablaze and a large fuel fire was started between the jetty area and naval fuel installations. Bomb bursts were also observed among searchlights and gun positions. Other bombers raided the harbour of Mersa Matruh. From all the operations, including Malta, four aircraft are missing, but one pilot is safe. AIRCRAFT BUSY OVER THE BATTLE AREA & MEDITERRANEAN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, August . 5. A Cairo communique states: “On Monday night our patrols were active in all sectors. Yesterday there were artillery exchanges in the northern and central sectors. “There was an increase in air activity in the battle area. Our light bombers and fighter-bombers attacked enemy vehicle concentrations in the central sector, while our fighters maintained an offensive patrol. Two Messerschmitts 109 were destroyed. “Enemy light shipping, with sea and air escort, was attacked off Bardia and direct hits were scored on lighters. Heavy Allied bombers attacked three large enemy merchant ships in the eastern Mediterranean. One direct hit and one near miss were claimed. “Air activity at Malta has been reduced.”