740.0011 European War 1939/7305: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Fish) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 29—8:15 a.m.]
375. Department’s 162, December 26, 9 p.m. British naval and air headquarters advise confidentially that the Italians now have 1 submarine, 6 destroyers, 5 motor torpedo boats and 9 bombers in area specified. However, action during October and November was confined to air and averaged only 6 attacks per month by 1 or 2 planes. No attacks of any kind have been reported for December. Since the beginning of the war only 1 ship has been sunk and 1 damaged both from the air. All British merchant shipping is convoyed by destroyers and an air patrol of 2 or 3 planes. Total ships thus convoyed amounted to 156 in October and 274 in November.