CYPRUS BOMBED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 227, 24 September 1940, Page 7

CYPRUS BOMBED.

FIRST ATTACK OF WAR. South African Air Force In Offensive. * (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept, 23. The first enemy air attack on Cyprus, based on a communique from British headquarters at Cyprus, states: "Hostile planes, flying at a great height, raided a town in the Morahou Bay area on Sunday morning. The attack lasted from 11.20 a.m. to 12.2 p.m. Bombs were dropped in the sea, and, later, a part of the town was machine-gunned. There were no casualties and no material damage. An air raid alarm sounded at Nicosia from 11.25 a.m. to 12.5 p.m."

A Nairobi communique states:— "South African Air Force squadrons successfully attacked Birikau, in Italian Somaliland, for the second time in a week. Direct hits were obtained on the camp, and fires were started. Other South African aircraft carried out normal reconnaissances. From these operations, all of our aircraft returned safely.

"Early on Saturday, Italian aircraft attacked foioto and Archer's Post area in Kenya. A number of bombs were dropped, but there were no military or air force casualties and no* damage."

A communique cabled from Rome claims:—"lt has. been ascertained that a British cruiser, torpedoed on September 19, subsequently sank. Photographs of the Italian bombardment of Haifa on September 21 show important results, and that extensive fires broke out. We reboni'bed an air base at Mikabba, Malta, causing a great fire.

"The enemy renewed the bom'bardment of Benghadi, damaging private houses. We rebonibed Mersa Mat rah with positive results, and also nightraided harbour works at Aden.

"It has been learned that we hit three ships in a British convoy on September 21. British bombed Gura, Kassala and Asmara. Two natives were killed and two wounded. British submarines sank an empty Italian merchantman in the Southern Pyreean Sea."