The loss of speed resulting from these attacks enabled our. heavy ips to make contact with the enemy, the communique said, but it was only as darkness fell that close Seljon as, joined, it battleships, with the secom~. panying light" forces, went into al lack, and as already announced the Cb: Baineh gun cruisers Polo, Zara and Fiume, the large destroyer-Vincenzo, Gioberti and the destroyer Maestrale were sunk, Tt is probable that one other dem stroyer was sub and possibly also the' G-inch gun cruiser Giovanni Delle Banonere was sunk as. well. Damage was seea to. be intlicled on 2 number of enemy ships but details could not be established owing the darkness and speed at which the tion was being fought, "Two tankers and a' considerable number of light dive-bombers were Gestroyed during the naval <operations on the morning of March 29.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.