SUPPLIES FOR MALTA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1942, Page 3

SUPPLIES FOR MALTA

ANOTHER CONVOY TAKEN THROUGH IN FACE OF FIERCE ATTACKS CRUISER MANCHESTER LOST. AT LEAST TWO U-BOATS SUNK. LONDON, August 14. Despite fierce attacks by heavy concentrations of Üboats and torpedo and divebombing aircraft a British convoy has reached Malta with supplies and reinforcements, including a number of fighter aircraft. An Admiralty communique states that a force of eight-inch and six-inch gun enemy cruisers was seen steaming south towards the convoy, but these enemy forces never came within range of the British ships. They turned back when they were attacked by aircraft. The result of this attack was not observed. On their way back, the enemy cruisers were intercepted by one of the British submarines, which scored two hits with torpedoes. Reports are awaited of the considerable air operations carried cut by naval aircraft and the R.A.F. At least two U-boats were sunk., The 9,400 ton cruiser Manchester was damaged and subsequently sank. Many survivors were picked up and it is believed others have reached Tunisia, as the ship went down close to the coast. 'The loss of the aircraft-carrier Eagle took place on the day before the main battle. The British escorting warships included battleships and aircraft-carriers. The Admiralty points out that dangerous operations of this kind cannot be completed without loss. It was add-| cd that any further news received | would be made known as soon as pos-! sible, provided it did not give inform-! ation to the enemy. The enemy j claims are known to be exaggerated. , The British forces were under the command "of Acting-Vice Admiral E. N. Syfret, a British Official Wireless] message states. ' The cruiser Manchester had a complement of 700 men. Her armament was twelve 6-inch guns, eight 4-inch guns, six torpedo-tubes and. antiaircraft armament She carried three aircraft.

VITAL BASE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING MALTA. FIRST LORD’S LETTER TO MASTERS OF SHIPS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY. August 14. The captains of all the merchantmen in the convoy which has been the centre of such bitter fighting in the Mediterranean received, before their departure, a personal letter from the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr A. V. Alexander). Such a message of encouragement underlines afresh the magnitude and importance of the task undertaken night and day by the Merchant Navy. The importance of Malta as the sole base on the Allied northern flank in the Mediterranean is emphasised by the fact that the convoy from Gibraltar was attacked by every weapon the Axis could muster. The importance of maintaining Malta is made great by two factors:—The island, as long as it can be fuelled, is a second front to Axis activities in the Central Mediterranean. It has diverted a formidable section of the Axis Air Force and has accounted for many hundreds of planes. The second factor is that the island contains 300,000 Empire citizens who have gallantly and untiringly stood by Britain. The idea of failing to supply them cannot be entertained.