Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-27
British Mediterranean Fleet
Pursuing Italian Naval Force
After Fight, Admiralty Says
Foscists Retiring
AT High Speed
Admiralty Asserts
BY the Associated Press.

LONDON, Nov. 27.-Britain's
Mediterranean fleet reported that 1t
had engaged strong Italian sea
force at extreme range" today and
that it pursued as the italians ere
tired at high speed" toward their
base.
The Admiralty, which has as
serted previously that the Italian
Navy had refused to come to grips
with the British, said no informa-
ton was available Immediately on
the outcome of the brief brush be-
tween the fleets.
A communique reported that the
British encountered two italian bat
tleships accompanied by a large
force" of cruisers and destroyers
shortly before noon.
britain has claimed, and Italy
denied, that torpedo planes in
capacitated half of Italy's bat
tleships in a November II raid on
laramie, leaving the Italians only
three active capital ships)
The communique said:
Information has been received
!. that our naval forces in the Mediter-
ranean made contact shortly before
noon today with an Italian force re-
ported to consist of two battleships
accompanied by large force OF
cruisers and destroyers.
Immediately on becoming aware
Of the approach of our forces, the
enemy altered course and retired at
high speed toward his base. Our
forces pursued, and it is known that
they engaged the enemy at extreme
range.
"No further information is at
present available, but full details
will be announced as soon as pos
sible."
Air Attack on Turin.
simultaneously the Air Ministry
reported a rapid-fire attack by
British heavy bombers on the very
center of Italian war production.
The ministry said the raiders
lighted "a number of fires" in the
factory city of Turin and set it shak-
ing with bursts Of its own explo-
sives.
AS the r. A. F. lunged at both
Turin and Berlin last night, the
axis assaults on Britain Jagged for
a second successive night, and re-
curing raid warnings today brought
only scattered, mild attacks to the
British Isles. London had its third,
brief alarm In midafternoon, but
no incidents were reported immedi-
ately.
. The raiders over Turin were said
by the Air Ministry to have attacked
the royal arsenal and greatly in
creased" damage done to the city
Saturday night.
Cologne Arms Plants Hit.
The main bombing attack on Ger
many last night was aimed at the
ornaments factories of Cologne, the
ministry added, but railways in Ber-
lin also were attacked.
The Air Ministry news service said
two direct bomb hits were made on
q Cologne ornaments factory and
that the resulting fire was seen so
miles away.
In two night attacks on the Rhine
land cathedral city, the news service
said, R. A. F. bombers directed their
missiles at power plants, freight
yards and stations on both sides Of
the river.
Twelve big explosions along the
rivers docks were reported by r. A. F
pilots who participated in the attack.
A communique acknowledged that
i've British planes were missing
after the nights operations, includ-
ing the raid on Turin.
damage to buildings in the
center and outskirts OF Turin,
Italy's leading industrial city, was
acknowledged by the Italian COM
munique today, but the arsenal
was not mentioned among the
targets)
(Air raid alarms sounded dur
ing the night in Switzerland,
usually sign that British planes
are on their way to or from tar
gets IN lCalyS INDUSTRIAL loTlH.
The Swiss high command said
anti-aircraft guns opened fire on
planes flying toward Italy and
back over Switzerland's neutral
borders)
Roaring over Turin in -quick sue
cession," the Air Ministry bulletin
said, the British bombers found no
clouds obstructing their views and
"were able to pick out their objec-
tives by various landmarks"
Arrive About IL PM.
The first aircraft arrived just
after II pm, the ministry reported,
and dropped high explosive and in
(See LONDON, Page A-40