ITALIANS CONTACT BRITISH FORCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 221, 17 September 1940, Page 8

ITALIANS CONTACT BRITISH FORCES.

. EGYPT FROHT. I Enemy Harried By R.A.F. And Artillery. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 16. A communique issued in Cairo on Monday states: "Although the main enemy forces appear to be consolidating their position round Solium, strong elements of armoured fighting vehicles are now in contact with our advance troops about Buqbuq. "Throughout yesterday the enemy was successfully harried by the R.A.F. and artillery fire from our mobile guns. Other fronts are quiet." Italian forces continue to penetrate the Western Desert area evacuated by the British, stated an earlier communique from Cairo. Camps are being constructed by the enemy in the neighbourhood of Birnuin, seven miles south of Solium.

"The enemy has suffered a severe handling by aircraft and armoured fighting vehicles, and columns descending to the coastal plain at Halfaya have suffered heavily from our artillery fire," continues the communique. "Our casualties continue to be insignificant. The ene.my is believed to have lost many men and vehicles. "Another raider has been brought down by anti-aircraft fire over Mersa Matruli. There is nothing to report 011 other fronts." "Alexandria in a Month." It is reported in official circles in Rome that thei Italians hope to reach Alexandria in a minimum of one month or a maximum of two months. A Royal Air Force communique issued in Cairo states: "In the Western Desert, where Italian bombers were active 011 Friday night, our bombers made a 6iic- I cessful attack on concentrations of enemy motor transport in the Solium area. Bombs in one case fell on vehicles. In another , case bombs fell among troops and vehicles, a fire being started. "In the Sudan,", states the communique, "enemy aircraft dropped bombs at Khoryabis, south-east of Khartoum. No material damage was caused. Our aircraft made attacks on Gura aerodrome, a direct hit being observed on a hangar and other buildings. A number of intense fires were started. Our bombers again' raided Assab." Claims On Land, Sea and Air. A later Rome communique states:— "Italian vanguards occupied Solium (Egypt) and pushed beyond it. They destroyed approximately 50 enemy armoured trucks and tanks belonging to retreating units and set fire to numerous supply depots, which suffered serious loss by air.

"We carried out dive-bombing attack's against Halfar, the airport of Malta, hitting anti-aircraft guns, sheds and equipment. A big explosion and a large fire were observed, Italian escort 'planes engaging dive-bombere which * counterattacked. One British 'plane was ehot down: All our 'planes returned. "Italian motor torpedo-boats sank a submarine in the Eastern. Mediterranean. A cruiser was hit by a medium bomb. We bombed troop sheds at Gosregeb. Natives at Metemma (Anglo-Egyptian Sudan) routed a caravan led by an Australian captain trying to enter Italian territory."

DEFENCE WORKS.

AUSTRALIA'S EXPENDITURE. (Reed. 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, announced that £20,000,000 wili be spent on defence works in Australia by the end of next June. A considerable portion will be spent on air force establishments for training airmen. Twenty-one schools will be in operation jby the end of this year when 2500 technicians will also be under training. The Federal Treasurer, Air. P. C. Spender, announced that Australia's home defence force is now 100,000 strong and would be increased "relatively soon" to 250,000. He added: "We are in an immensely stronger position than would have been thought possible even a year ago. We aim to provide a complete system of defence for Australia and give the maximum • assistance to Britain and other countries of the Empire."