The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-10

range by a shell from one OF the
big British ships.
A British feet based at Alexan-
dria, Egypt, had quietly steamed
westward to seek the italian navy,
having insured that the French
warships remaining at Alexandria
were immobilized for the rest Of the
war.
At the same time the Western
Mediterranean fleet, based on Gi-
braltar, steamed eastward-having
disposed of the French western
Mediterranean feet in the battle OF
Oran last week.
Contact Italian Fleet.
East of Malta yesterday, the Alex
andria squadron under Sir Andrew
Cunningham, commander In chief
in the Mediterranean, effected con-
tact with an italian fleet including
two battleships, numerous heavy
and light cruisers, and destroyers.
It was asserted that almost as
soon as contact was effected, the
Italians began retiring behind a
heavy smoke screen, but not, the
Admiralty asserted, before one OF the
Italian battleships had been struck
at long range by one Of the British
capital ships-meaning either bat
tleship or a battle cruiser.
cat the time Of receipt Of this in
formation the enemy was being pur-
sued" tersely commented an Admir-
atty communique issued early today.
AS the Alexandria contingent met
the Italians, the Gibraltar fleet was
vainly seeking Italian warships. Ell
fecting what the Admiralty called q
sweep toward the central Mediter-
ranean, this feet met and, the Adj
miralty said, destroyed four italian
ariplanes and damaged seven others.
three of them so severely that 1t was
unlikely they reached port.
May Delay INVASION
London, July 10 -(UP)-Beliet
strengthened in some well informed
quarters today that Germany, while
intensifying airplane attacks on
Great Britain, would delay any at
tempt at mass invasion until the
southeastern European situation had
been clarified and might even EN-
bark on another peace offensive"
Royal Air force reconnaissance
planes report that they have found
little, along the Norwegian, Neither
lands, Belgian and French coasts, to
indicate any unusual troop or trans
port concentration such as would be
needed for an invasion attempt.
German radio stations, which US
ually spend much time blasting Brit
ain generally, are now broadcasting
hints that Germany might soon Of
fer Britain peace on condition that
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
is dismissed and that new govern
ment is established patterned on
that of the "New France"
columbia Broadcasting system,
whose short wave station listens To
German broadcasts, reported today
that Germany was stepping up the
pace Of peace appeals TO those IN
Britain who might be swayedD
Pite0us Ruin By Naxls
("Lord Haw Haw." who makes
broadcasts In the English language,
last night spent the first 10 min-
utes Of his talk describing the pit.
eous ruin" which the German army
had left In its trail In other coun-
tries. and IN predicting O hofTible
fate for Britain. Columbia said. Then
he said England chose recourse "a
the sword rather than negotiations
The sword rs now pointed NJ Eng.
lands breast. VIII the signal be CIV
en- for II 10 be plunged IN. up 70 the
hilt, or viii England cut her losses
bind up her wounds and recover u
assist IN the reconstruction OF . new
and prosperous EliFopef"l
There was not the slightest indl'
cation that any German Deaee g.
fer, which could only be ono fhal
would mean acceptance Of defeat
would be considered for q moment
here BY anyone outside the oeien.