The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-14

Branding German ana 1tail4n claims that upward of 90 British warsElps and merchant ships were sunk in the three-day battle as "exaggerated," the Admiralty indi- cated that the aerial phase of the struggle might still be underway.
 Against the loss of the cruiser Manchester, which went down of the African Tunisian coast, and the old 22,6O0- ton carrier Eagle, the Admiralty said that at least two Axis submarines were sunk and two torpedo hits were scored on enemy cruisers.
 In evidence of the bIg-scale na- ture of the battle, said in Axis &C., counts to have begun Tuesday morning, the Admiralty said that force of Italo- German eight-inch and six-inch gun cruisers steamed up to fight but were turned away by British planes.
 Axis Out of Range
 The Axis cruisers never came within range of the British ships.
 Despite the furious attack, the Germans and Italians were unable to prevent ships of the convoy from reaching Malta and delivering their endorsements and supplies, includ- ing a number of fighter planes, 1t was stated.
 Although the loss of the Eagle had been announced Wednesday, it was evident that the battle = it's final tabulations still unavailable was one of the most dramatic of the war and one of the fiercest ever fought in the battle scourged inland area.
 There was no mention in the British Admiralty communique of German claims that the United States aircraft carrier Wasp, 14,700 tons, was hit by six aerial bombs, set ablaze and sent fleeing" toward Malta while forming part of the Allied conveys protection.
 The Cruiser Manchester, of the Newcastle class, was laid down in ] 1897 and was one of a class built to complete with Japan's Mogami class and the United States Brook lyn type with their six-inch guns. The Manchester had a normal complement of 700 officers and men, carried 12 six-inch guns, eight four inch anti-aircraft guns, four three pounders, a howitzer and 16 smaller guns as well as three aircraft and a catapault.
 E7any Were Rescued
 The Admiralty said that many of the Manchester's survivors were res cued and other are believed to have reached the Tunisian coast. The carrier Eagle, originally laid down in 1913 as 8 battleship for Chile was carrying above her nor- nal complement of 748 officers and men and most of them were saved, 1t has been announced.
 The Manchester was completed only four years ago, with speed of 32 knots, and was stationed for a time in the East Indies but later saw service in the Red Sea and in the Arctic, surviving a number of bombing attacks.
 On November 27, 1940, 1t was the van of the attack on the Italian fleet in the battle of Cape Sparti Vento.
 The Manchester was refitted at the Philadelphia Navy Yard lete i-l 1941.
 Text of the communique:
 Naval operations have been talk ing place in the western and central Mediterranean for the past few days. Our forces were under the command of acting Vice-Admiral E. N. Syfret. These operations resulted in supplies and endorsements reaching the fortress of Malta des- pite very heavy enemy concentra- tions designed to prevent their pass age. The endorsements include a numbr of fighter aircraft.
 Measures taken by the enemy consisted of packs of U-boats and large numbers of torpedo dive bombing aircraft and strong forces of E-boats operating in the Central NarroWs. A force of enemy cruisers consisting of ships armed with 8-inch and 6-inch guns was concentrated in the Tyrrhenian Sea AIlA oVCCACQ 0OutllWdlO do A. ~ db- tempt to interfere with the passage of our convoy.
 "The enemy cruiser force, how ever, never came within range of our ships and turned back on being attacked by aircraft. The results of this attack was not observed. The enemy cruisers were intercepted and attacked on their way back to the harbor by one of our submarines under command of Lieutenant A. c. G. Mare. Two hits with torpedoes were scored on the enemy cruisers.
 More Reports Awaited
 Reports are awaited on consider able air operations carried out by naval aircraft and aircraft from the RAF.
 'The destruction of one U-boat is already announced and it is certain at least one more was sunk.
 "The loss of the Aircraft Carrier Eagle already has been announced The Admiralty regret to announce that the Cruiser HMS Manchester Captain H. Drew, R. N. was dam aged and subsequently, sank. Many survivors were picked up and it is believed others reached the Tunisar coast since the position in which the ship sank was close to that coast.
 "The next of kin will be informed as soon as possible.
 | Tt is not to be expected that ex.