The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1940-07-10
BRITISH,
ITALIANS
in FIGHT.
Running Battle Reported
During Night : Both
Sides Make Claims
tBy ASSOCIATED PRESS

Italy disputes the British rule
over the seas as both sides claimed
a victory in violent zigzag naval
battle during the night in the Ionian
Sea, just below the instep of the
Italian boot.
The British version claims the
italian battle fleet fled almost i'm
mediately" behind a smoke screen
after one italian battleship suffered,
perhaps fatally, from long range
fire. The British Admiralty said
"mendacious reports given out by
the enemy" would indicate a de-
feat on the seas, but the true facts
are the Italian ships came out, were
met, and the clash developed into
a chase with the Italian fleet flee
ing. No British ships suffered"
Fleet Gains Shelter
The report further says that 1t
must be admitted, however, that the
Italian fleet must have gained the
shelter of shore batteries.
The Admiralty added that the
casualties among the Italians were
heavy.
The italian communique admit
ted casualties of % fleet men killed
and 50 wounded but insists the
italian Naval forces sought out
the British men-of-war to head
off an apparent British plan to at
tack Italian coastal positions.
Claim Sinking
The communique further says:
I'VE succeeded in contracting the
enemy. One British warship, prob
ably a battleship was sunk while
only one OF our warships were hit
The Italians however, admit the
sinking Of the Italian destroyer
zeffiro and the loss also of one
submarine.
Italy'sclaim of seeking the initia-
tive for sea battle differs remark
edly with the British account which
reports its Royal Navy made con-
tact with the italian ships and pur-
sued them in flight
Early Report
British and Italian warships en-
gagged in fierce battle in the
Mediterranean last night.
The London Admiralty ANNOUNCE
ed that the naval engagement was
under way east of the British Is
land of Malta. The announcement
indicated that the British warships
had gotten the best of the first
clash and were pursuing the Ital-
ian ships which were trying TO
withdraw behind a heavy smoke
screen.
The encounter was the first ma
jor battle between British and Ital-
ian warships since Italy entered
the war
London sources said that an Ital-
ian battleship had been hit direct
ly by capital British ship at ex-
tremely close range.
The scene of the battle was
southeast of Sicily and north of
loniioii 11iDyd- Lie humber OF
ships engaged was not disclosed last
night but major ships were believed
involved on both sides.
The British squadron was steam
ing through the Mediterranean
when it encountered the Italian
warships. Immediately there were
heavy salvoes which lighted up the
darkened sea. The italian warships
threw up dense smoke screens
shortly after the battle began.
Reports indicated that a British
fleet of undetermined size was
steaming through the Mediterrane-
an in westerly direction. This
announcement had been made by
a Rome radio announcer who said
that units of the French fleet from
Alexandria, now under British con-
troll, were included in the squad
ron.
The Italian fleet was believed
to have ventured forth in an eff
fort to fall upon the British squad
ron which the Italians believed was
part of the ships which had been