CONTINUED INACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1943, Page 3

CONTINUED INACTION

OF THE ITALIAN FLEET ATTRIBUTED TO LACK OF DESTROYERS. UNWISE DIVISION OF STRENGTH. LONDON, July 14. “A lack of destroyers is imposing inaction upon the Italian naval command” says the “Daily Telegraph’s” naval correspondent. He states that the two Italian fleets have not attempted to put to sea since the Allied invasion of Sicily. “It is doubtful,” he says, “whether Italy at present could send to sea more than 25 destroyers. The Italian destroyer strength was so whittled away when these craft were responsible for escorting reinforcements and supplies for the Axis armies in North Africa and the Dodecanese that the Italian Navy now has insufficient destroyers for the needs of even one fleet.” “One view in London on the whereabouts of the Italian Navy,” says the Press Association’s special correspondent, “is that one half is at Spezia and the’ other half at Taranto. United, it would comprise seven battleships, nine cruisers, and many destroyers and submarines, and would present a formidable threat. Whatever the reason for the splitting of the fleet, it is suggested that the Italians have made a firstclass blunder, for it is practically impossible for the fleet to unite today in order to form a unit that would be sufficiently powerful to threaten the Allied supply lines. If ever the sections decide to fight they will have to go into action as separate units. “It is believed that the British battle fleet is probably operating on both sides of Sicily, covering both Taranto and Spezia. There is no doubt here as to what the result of actions would be, though it is admitted that they might hinder the landing of troops and armament.”