The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-31

devastating fefect and the enemy vessel became mass of flame from bridge to stern.
 "It was reported that her after turret was blown overside.
 After one more broadside which increased the fires on the enemy ship which now was helplessly crippled we switched the fire to the next ship in line which was the Zara.
 "The first broadside had the same devastating effect. She burst into flames. By now the entire battle fleet was in action. Our searchlights illuminated two destroyers astern of the enemy cruisers. They were ideal- ly placed for Q torpedo attack upon us and at once turned and fired their tubes.
 "The fleet altered course and en- gagged with its main and secondary armaments the destroyers which re- I tired behind a heavy smoke screen.
 "At the same time the commander in-chief ordered our destroyers to finish off the burning cruisers. The destroyers went in with torpedoes & dnsank three cruisers and two de- stroyers."
 British Escape Unscathed
 The British battle fleet, now back in Alexandria, emerged from the encounter without a scratch or cas- ualty. British naval officers believed that the 35,00O-ton Littorio class battle- ship, flagship of the Italian fleet, engaged in the firing which appar- ently occurred between the Italians own warships.
 This ship, 1t was suggested, had limped along at half speed for hours to run into the remnants of the fleet the British had beaten and a mutual mistake occurred.
 The btatleship had been seen to turn for home after the first at- tack by the British planes.
 It was known, authoritative sources said here, that the battle- ship was hit three times at least by airplane torpedoes--Italy's new est and most powerful battleship.
 Two British planes were lost dur ing long day of attacks from the air on the battleship and cruisers.
 German Junkers-88 dive bombers i appeared over the British fleet but did no damage because of deadly fire from anti-aircraft guns and the attcks of British fighter pines, and two of them were shot down. 900 Are Rescued
 Among 900 Italians rescued and made prisoner after their ships had sunk are 61 officers, including the captain of the cruiser Pola. Admiral Cantoni, commanding the Italian l0-inch cruiser squadron, is missing. The Italian commander in chief was aboard the batleship.
 "The great and astonishing battle was fought Friday night in the deep dark of a moonless night.
 The captain of the Destroy r Ha- voc, which went in to finish off the Italian cruisers set fire by the 15- inch gun broadsides of three Brit ish batleships, raidioed Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, the command CT in chief:
 T am hanging on to the stern of the Cruiser Pola Shall board her or blow her stern of with depth charges?'
 Cuningham's reply was not dis- closed-but the Pola was sunk.
 Admiral Cunningham called the action "a notable success over the enemy"
 "Skilfull handling of our cruisers and the untiring efforts of the fleet air arm kept me well informed of the enemy's movements and well- pressed-home attacks by torpedo bombing aircraft on the Littorio so reduced the speed of the enemy fleet that we were able to gain con- tact during the night and infiict heavy damage" he continued. Devastating Results
 "The devastating results of our batleships' gun fire was an ample reward for months of patient train ing. This work was completed by destroyers in the admirable way we have come to expect from them.
 'The contribution of the engine room departments in this success can not be over-empnasised. Their :, work not only in keeping their ship steaming at high speed for long periods but in the work of main. tenance under most difiicult con- ditions has been most praise worthy.
 T am grateful to all In the fleet