The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-03
SEA FIGHTING


THURSDAY. APRIL 3, 1871
SEA FIGHTING
\ valuable aspect OF the British
Italian Mediterranean jutland sea
battle was its yindicauon Of the
L. ). Navy's conception of the APP
-plicatiln of air. power to sea war
tare-an air arm Chat is an iute-
gral part OF the fleet with aTDlare
carriers as principal reservoirs OF
air power.
Admiral Sir Andrew Browne Gun
ninchams eastern Mediterranean
fleet was organized on this prln-
ciple. II had at least two airplane
carriers. The Italian air force is
organized independently OF Mus
solinis army and navy. II employs.
land bases almost exclusively Tor
air operations over the Mediterran-
can. and has no airp.ane carriers.
Principal items that make for
airplane efficiency in sea war are
bombing and scouting In the
bombing division, British planes
outscored their Axis opponents by
disabling d $4,000 ton battleship
against light cruiser claimed hit
by German dive bombers.
In the all-important item Of
acting as eyes and ears for their
surface fleet the margin OF super
iority OF the Raj. flyers was even
greater. in all accounts OF the
Mediterranean engagement, an
nj Ia -
the complete blindness OF the Fas-
cist fleet and Admiral Cunning
hams exact knowledge Of the sit
uation at all times.
The battle yields a fascinating
picture Of ultra modern sea war.
First contact Of opposing forces
was shortly before noon, when
scouting British plane noted a
strong Italian fleet off Sicily.
steaming slowly eastward.
This was good scouting. Pre-
sumably the plane was from Crete,
five hundred miles away. Why
Italian fighter planes did not pick
the Raj pilot off is a mystery.
The scouting plane laid the foun-
3 dartOH for Italy headache by
radioing Crete and Alexandria.
From Crete the British cruiser
Orion started steaminE westward
10 meet the Italian vessels. while
AZ Alexandria the battleships OF
Admiral Cunningham squadron
hoisted anchor and got under way
Two Italian battleships. half a
dozen cruisers and numerous de-
stroyers were sighted by the plane.
The British admiral had four
superdreadnaughts, two airplane
carriers and dozen smaller YES
sells His orders 10 the Orion. five
hundred miles nearer the Fascists.
was 70 hold the Italian fleet in
play while he. with his heavier
ships. attempted 10 cut theSline
Of their retreat
The Orion played its part most
rapably, decoyin'g the greatly su-
perior Italian vessel on a chase Of
several hundred miles. Meantime
the heavy British vessels plunged
along a 700 mile arc in a thirty
hour forced draught run.
For the last six hours o,
than 200 miles OF the Fascist YES
sels. When Admiral CUNNINGHAM
launched his hundred or more
carrter.based planes It was with in
structions 10 drive every Fascist
scout from the skies.
A single Italian air scout sight.
ing the line Of British superdread
naughts would have given the play
away, but no such plane succeed
ed in penetrating the British line
Of air fighters.
A victory such as this represents
the acme Of surprise in war. But
even allowing for the better Brit
1sh- system aiF-sea- ersahiza
ton, It Is difficult 10 understand
how Admiral Cunningham's fleet
could remain more than thirty
hours AZ sea without the Ttaltar
nigh command finding. out about
st.