FLEET IN HIDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1943, Page 3

FLEET IN HIDING

INACTIVITY OF ITALIANS , / DISAPPOINTS ALLIED NAVAL. FORCES. BOMBARDMENTS OF SICILY & MAINLAND. » (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 4. The riddle of the Italian Fleet’s inaction during the Sicilian operations was commented upon by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Alexander, in a speech at Doncaster, The Italians, said Mr Alexander, still had powerful warships available, and when the Allies planned the expedition, the possibility that the Italian Fleet might dispute its passage had to be taken into acount. This contingency was provided against by heavy covering forces of battleships, aircraft-carriers and cruisers with their attendant destroyers, and also by close escorts for convoys and by mine-sweepers- to sweep channels through the enemy minefields. Submarines also took up stations to interfere with attempts to reinforce Sicily from Italy or Albania, and our light forces operated against the Eboats under the enemy coastal defences. The Italian Fleet was probably overawed by the large force provided, and it did not come out —much to -the disappointment of the larger ships. The submarines and light coastal craft, however, had good hunting, the formqr sinking or severely damaging 20 enemy transports and suppily vessels, together with a number of naval auxiliaries. The light coastal forces sank, damaged or drove ashore a known total of 18 E-boats. The heavy ships, however, were not denied the opportunity of hitting directly at the enemy, Mr Alexander added, for when it became clear there was no prospect of an engagement with the Italian Fleet our battleships, cruisers and destroyers were used in direct support of the army. From the time of the first landings to the final conquest of the island the navy subjected Sicily to more than 50 organised bombardments, and other bombardments were directed against the Italian mainland.