Banana Raider

The Indian Ocean has become one of Britain's vital supply lines, across which go the resources of India. Australia and New Zealand, both to Britain and the Near East. Keeping it open is one of the primary objectives of British strategy. The conquest of East Africa, which last week progressed satisfactorily, is directed toward clearing the Red Sea and African coast of Axis threats to the line. Last week the British showed they were awake at sea as well.

The British light cruiser Leander, operating with a New Zealand naval squadron, came on a merchant ship flying the British Merchant Marine's red ensign, but plying alone, unconvoyed, unidentified. Leander ordered her to halt. The lone ship's answer was to pull down the "red duster," hoist Italian colors, and blaze a broadside from 4.7-inch guns mounted on forecastle and poop. She was an Italian raider. Leander, with crushing superiority in speed and fire power, closed in and destroyed her "promptly." She was identified as Ramb I, 3,667-ton freighter with a cruiser stern, built in 1937 for the Italian Government's banana monopoly.

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