Seems like the entire British Mediterranean Fleet escorted those four merchant ships to Malta. It’s an impressive naval force. Something tells me this operation was intended as a provocation to get the Italian fleet to come out and rumble. Either the Italians were ignorant of the sortie, or declined the invitation.
I wonder if fuel played a roll even at this early stage. The Italian Navy will be hampered by a severe shortage of fuel oil throughout the war and I know it becomes a major issue by the beginning of 1942. Certainly, if the Italians are not skittish about engaging the British fleet now, they soon will be.