DENIED TO ENEMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 July 1943, Page 3

DENIED TO ENEMY

USE OF MESSINA STRAITS ACTIVITIES OF MOSQUITO FLEET. SURRENDER OF ITALIAN SUBMARINE. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, July 15. The Royal Navy’s “mosquito fleet” is now operating in the narrow Straits of Messina, making the Axis task of sending reinforcements and supplies to Sicily most difficult, says a correspondent of the “Daily # Herald.” Since the invasion began small ships have been ranging the straits at night, when the enemy might send ships across the narrows. These high-speed motor torpedo-boats and gunboats thus deny the use of the straits to the enemy and at the same time cover the Allied transports unloading troops and stores farther down the coast from. E-boat attUEaiiy on Tuesday the mosquito fleet met a flotilla of German,' E-boals coming through the narrows and immediately attacked, driving two ashore in flames. They also damaged an E-boat in another brush With the enemy later. One of our mine-sweepers entering Augusta Harbour after the occupation of the town, captured an Italian submarine which was apparently endeov ouring to escape, says the Exchange Telegraph Agency. The mine-sweeper’s crew saw the submarine’s periscope and turned to ram it, whereupon the submarine surfaced and 'surrendered. .Augusta' is the biggest naval base in Sicily. It was used as a submarine and E-boat base. The Italians spent huge sums building moles two miles long.