'He recalled that though one con~ veyed ship was hit, she carried' on, White, "as" already." announced, out British destroyer was lost. He added that convoy forces had sunk one boat, damaged another and probably destroyed one" submarine, " besides Shooting down a number of attacking planes, "Xt is now possible to give some account of recent naval operations in the "Mediterranean." "states Admiralty: communique on, the same subject ssued yesterday afternoon, "These operations, which were under the command of Vieo-Admiral Sir J, Somerville, resulted in' the 'Successful passage' of an important convoy through the central Mediter-Fanean, without loss to the convoy, One. merchantman, However. " was damaged. and. as already' announced, our naval forces suffered the loss of a destroyer HINES, Fearless, Con Siderable losses' were milleted' on such of the enemy as ventured to attack,"
Attacked by U-Boat The communique adds: "On. the morning) of July" 21 our ships were ighted by enemy reconnaissance alt= craft, That night, 9 U-boat delivered altaeke which however, was une Secensfuly and it is pesable that the U-boat. was "destroyed. by the very strong counter-attack to which it-was and, torpedo-carrying aircraft devel-'Oped, These attacks were abortive ghd two. bombers were shot. down By" our aghters. and a flying Boat damaged. the evening our ships and convoy" were again. unsuccessfully tacked both" by bombers and Terpedo-carrying "aircraft. "At this critical period the convoy was close {o "enemy bases, "but eluded. the enemy's eir forces by, determination fand skilful handling. "Enemy alreratt Were seen to be searching unsuccess-Fully with the aid' of 8 Tarxe number E-Boat Sunk "Barly, on July 25 the convoy and escort was attacked by' E-boats. It was during this attack' that "one ship of the convoy received damage. This ship was, however, able to continue under her own power, and one Biboat was certainly sunk and another probably damaged.
"Three, separate air attacks then developed "on the convoy and its escort, between 690 'a.m. and 10.00 firn. The third of these attacks was carried out by German dive-bombers the same time that the ships were being subjected. to high-level bomb-Ing. in none of these. were, an 'OUF ships hit, and one of the 'Ger man dive-bombers was shos down by. Our' antiaircraft. fire. Enemy alr Btiack9 also developed against the fleet. but no damage or casualties were suffered by our ships.
"Shortly before the development the most serious of these last alr at~ ocks yo fying boats were shot down by our fighters, The main attack Was "delivered both by, torpedo: faring "alferat" and © high-level ymbers. It was intercepted anc broken. up by. our Two Bombers were shot down and one was. damaged, Three of our naval aureratt were lost, but the crew of one was, "Next morning, p series of alr at= tacks developed,' This was by for Crulser Damaged Dedorcarrying. alrerat. synchronized "During these operations one of our {ith flghvlevel bombers." OF the ale cruisers and. one destroyer suffered forpedovcarriers which pressed home Gomone, There Was a small number the attack, three were shot down by fof casuallies tu each ship." The next Sur antiaircraft ae, St Kin are being informed a5 soon as torpedo and had subsequently 10 ye.
"IMS. Fearless was hit PotApart from one attack by E-boats. funk by our forees, The number of tu which one E-boat "was suc another pro managed. no a casualties "Was nol, large, Dut the tempt waz made by enemy surface Somes have net yet been received, forces 10 interfere, although our im= Air Attacks Unsuccessful portant convoy had of necessity. to Be'for some time in close. proximity "he high-level bombing attack fo the enemy's main bases, was completely' unsuccessful, and "Enemy air forces were unable to enemy bombers were shot down prevent the difficult operation being by our naval ireraft. While two FOUEKE to. g- Successful conclusion. others' were probably destroyed, and a long series of heavy air attacks "Three of our aircraft were lost!
Fesulted in the" destruction of in' this engagement, but. the crews Minimum of twelve enemy aircraft. of all were saved. During the after= With at least four olliers damaged noon further air ailacks by bombers and' probably destroyed""-Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.