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"On September 2 our force from eastern Mediterranean was attacked by enemy aircraft when south-west of Malta. It is presumably to this attack that an Italian communique on September 3 referred when it stated: "One enemy aircraft-carrier was seriously hit astern. In addition one enemy battleship, one cruiser and one destroyer received hits squarely amidships and were damaged."
"3o Casualties Suffered In fact, this action resulted in no Gamage or casualties to any of our ships. While five enemy aircraft were shot down by Fulmar and Gladiator fighters of the Fleet Air Arm and anti-aircraft gunfire of the Fleet, four Others were chased almost to Sicily and probably damaged.
"Nor were these aircraft Italian, they were German dive-bombers of the Junkers 87 type.
"On September 4 enemy aerodromes at Maritza and Calato were simultaneously attacked by Swordfish aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm. At Calato a number of aircraft on the aerodrome were destroyed. Loud explosions were heard, probably from ammunition dumps, and fires were observed in barracks and other buildings. Direct hits were scored on two main hangars, and petrol dumps, workshops and barracks were set on fire, "Following an attack of Fleet Air Arm aircraft on an enemy aerodrome in Rhodes, some of our naval forces, including the Australian cruiser Sydney (Captain J. A. Collins) and His Majesty's Orion (Captain G. R. Back), bombarded military objectives in the Italian Dodecanese Islands.
"The aerodrome and surrounding buildings at Makriyalo and the har-hour at Legadia, in Scarpanto island, were bombarded. The aerodrome at Makriyalo was plastered with six-inch shells, and none of the surrounding buildings was left intact. Legadia is the seat of the Italian Government on Scarpanto island.
"Of five enemy motor torpedo-boats which emerged from the har-hour, His Majesty's Iex (Lieut.- Commander P. L. Saumaraz) intercepted three, which tried to attack. Two of these were sunk and the third damaged.
"Our fore the Dodecanese in area were later unsuccessfully attacked. by enemy aircraft, two of which were shot down into the sea end at least three others damaged.
Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.