BRITISH SUBMARINES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1943, Page 3

BRITISH SUBMARINES

CONTINUED DESTRUCTION OF AXIS SHIPS IN CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN ADMIRALTY REPORTS FURTHER SUCCESSES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 6. The Admiralty states: “In the entral Mediterranean British submarines continue the destruction of enemy shipping. “A submarine which was operating close to the east Tunisian coast atacked by gunfire a small enemy ship, which was hit. Shore batteries intervened in an attempt to save the vessel, but the submarine dived and then torpedoed and sank the ship. “A small enemy tanker and a med-ium-sized escorted supply ship in the same area were also torpedoed and sunk. Another small supply ship was attacked by gunfire and left in a sinking condition. “Off the south-eastern coast of Italy a medium-sized supply ship was torpedoed and sunk by another submarine. Another submarine, surfacing near Cotwane, bombarded a railway bridge and scored many hits. Shore batteries engaged the submarine without success.” Since the Allies moved into North Africa three months ago our submarines have definitely sunk 50 enemy supply ships and damaged 34 more, and some of these are believed to have sunk later. Further losses have been inflicted by our surface ships and aircraft.