The British Navy in the Mediterranean has been increased to a force probably equal to one-third of her entire Fleet. There are probably seven battleships, of which at least two are of the King George V class. one battle cruiser, possibly two. probably 18 to 20 cruisers and sixty odd destroyers. A considerable part of the British submarine force also probably is there.
British weakness now is in aircraft carriers and these are all-important if the British warships are to operate near Italian air bases. The Greek islands as bases are not near enough to the scene of operations to give sufficient air support to British warships in the vicinity of the Straits of Sicily.
Britain has only five of the prewar carriers left. Three at least are being built and should be almost completed. Most of the available carriers doubtless will find their way into the Mediterranean now.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.