OF ITALIAN NAVAL SURRENDER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1943, Page 4

OF ITALIAN NAVAL SURRENDER

42 Surface Ships and 14 Submarines Escape Germans ADMIRAL BAGLIRIA KILLED IN ROMA SUCCESSOR HANDS OVER FLEET AT MALTA (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—-Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, September 12. Forty-two Italian warships and 14 submarines have escaped ■ from Italian ports. Reuter’s Valetta correspondent says the ; four Italian battleships definitely now at Malta are the Ita (formerly Littoria), Vitttrio Veneto, Caioduilib and Aneoria. The two last-named ships have both been reconstructed. The Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Fleet, Admiral Bagliria, died when his flagship, the Roma, was sunk by German bombers, so it was the acting-commander, Admiral Ruba; who came ashore and met Admiral Sir A. Cunningham. The Italian Admiral and his officers were given a full naval guard of honour on the quayside, while the warships lying in the Grand Harbour piped the Italians’ barge as it passed down the line. Sir A. Cunningham shook hands with the English-speaking Italian Admiral, as he greeted him with the words: ‘ ‘ Good afternoon Admiral. How do you do. Sit down.” General Eisenhower is quoted by combined British Press representatives as saying: ‘‘l was thrilled when I watched the glorious sight of the Italian fleet steaming to Malta. ” “ The developments of the campaign in Italy in the last few weeks,” General Eisenhower added, ‘‘have placed the United Nations in a more favourable position, from which I can begin the bitter battle for Italy. ’ ’ The Algiers radio says the Allies found the port of Taranto almost intact and the port of Brindisi also in good condition. A message from Istanbul says Italian planes are flying to Cyprus from the Greek island of Samos.