HEAVY DESTRUCTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1943, Page 3

HEAVY DESTRUCTION

OF ENEMY SEA TRANSPORT IN MEDITERRANEAN BRITISH SUBMARINES SINK 10 OR MORE SHIPS. AT LEAST ANOTHER EIGHT HIT BY BOMBS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 1. Allied air forces yesteday made one of the most accurate attacks on enemy shipping since the Tunisian campaign began. Beauforts attacked shipping successfully and at least eight vessels were hit by bombs. The most notable air exploit was the destruction of a whole formation of five Junkers transports in 10 minutes by one Beaufighter near Cagliari. Many men were seen climbing out when the Junkers crashed. The Beaufighter returned to its base with more than half its ammunition unexpended. The Admiralty states that his Majes-1 ty’s submarines sank 10 or more enemy ships attempting to make the passage between Axis-controlled ports in the Mediterranean. A large, heavily-es-corted tanker bound for Tunis was torpedoed and blew up. A small-sized tanker was sunk by gunfire off the west coast of Italy. In the same area,, two small supply ships were sunk by torpedoes. A large transport and a large supply ship were torpedoed and sunk off Corthe island of Monte Cristo a large supply ship, apparently laden with ammunition and petrol, was torpedoed and subsequently blew up. A large motor supply ship was torpedoed and sunk off the tip of Tunisia. A small supply ship and an escort vessel were destroyed off Sicily. ROMMEL WITHDRAWN CONFIRMATION IN ARTICLE BY GOEBBELS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, April 30. The Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Dr. Goebbels, in an article published late in March in “Signal,” Germany’s luxury weekly, and which reached London tonight, confirmed the report that Field-Marshal Rommel had left Africa. An illustration in “Signal” shows General von Arnim inspecting an officer’s observation post. He is described as “Officer Commanding the Axis Forces in Tunisia.” “ATTACK AT ALL COSTS” VON ARNIM’S ORDER TO TROOPS. LONDON, May 2. The “Daily Express” correspondent with the First Army says that General von Arnim issued an order of the day which is being distributed along the front and reads: “Attack at all costs. Before you lies the enemy, behind you is the sea. There must be no withdrawal.” The Berlin radio says it is reported from Algeciras that 20 ships reached Gibraltar yesterday. Most of them, had motor landing barges aboard. Sixtyseven Allied merchantmen are making ready to sail from Gibraltar.