WESTERN DESERT

Evening Star, Issue 23683, 17 September 1940, Page 7

WESTERN DESERT

ITALIAN CONCENTRATIONS BOMBED ENEMY SUFFERS SEVERELY (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright’ RUGBY, September 15. A Royal Air Force communique issued in Cairo states: “In the Western Desert, where Italian bombers were active on the night of September 13, our bombers made a successful attack on concentrations of enemy motor transport in the Solium area. Bombs in one case fell on vehicles, a number off which were hit. In another case bomba fell among troops and vehicles, a fir» being started. In the Sudan enemy aircraft dropped bombs at Khoryabis* south-east of Khartum. No material damage was caused. Our aircraft mad* attacks on Gura aerodrome, a direct; hit being observed on a hangar and other buildings, and a number of intense fires were started. Our bombers again raided Assab.” A Cairo communique states: “ Penetration by Italian forces into the desertj area evacuated by tbe British continues* Camps are being constructed ’in tha neighbourhood of Birnum, 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 suffered heavily from our artillery fire* While our casualties continue to be insignificant, the enemy are believed to have lost many men and vehicles. Another raider has been brought down by; anti-aircraft fire over Mersa Matruh* There is nothing to report on the other, fronts.” ITALIAN HOPES. It has been reported in official circles in Home,that the Italians hope to reach Alexandria in a minimum of a montt or a maximum of two months. 1 1,1 ’■ « ITALIAN VERSION ROME, September 18. (Received September 17, at 11 a.m.) A communique states: “The Italian vanguard occupied Solium, pushed beyond it, and destroyed approximately 50 enemy armoured cars and tanks. The retreating units set fire to numerous supply depots and suffered serious losses by air. We carried out divebombing attacks against the Halfar airport at Malta, hitting anti-aircraft batteries, sheds, and equipment. A big explosion and a large fire were observed. Italian escort planes engaged dive-bombers which counter-attacked. One British plane was shot down.. All ours returned safely. “ Italian motor torpedo boats sank a submarine in theAEastern Mediterranean. A cruiser was hit by a medium bomb. We bombed troop sheds at Gosregeb. Natives at Metemma routed a caravan led by an Australian captain frying to enter Italian territory.” SEA WARFARE MCRE CASUALTIES ANNOUNCED LONDON, September 16. (Received September 17, at 10.30 a.m.)] The casualties as the result of the sinking of the Dunvegan Castle were one officer and two ratings killed, three officers and 21 ratings missing, and three officers and nine ratings wounded. The casualties as the result of tha sinking of the Express were two officers and eight ratings killed, one officer and one rating died of wounds, one officer and 53 ratings missing, and two officers and 20 ratings wounded. [An Admiralty communique on September 1 announced that the armed merchant cruiser, H.M.S. Dunvegan. Castle, 15,000 tons (Caption H. Ardill, R.N.), was torpedoed and subsequently sank. British warships landed 250 survivors. It was officially announced on September 5 that t’he destroyer Express had been sunk by an enemy mine or torpedo.] BRITISH PARLIAMENT QUESTION OF EXTENSION OF LIFE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 16. (Received September 17, at 9.40 a.m.); It is expected that the Prime Minister will make an early statement in the House of Commons regarding prolongation of the life of the present Parliament, which by terms of the Parliament Act automatically ends on November 26. The maximum life of five years since the last Genera! Election will be completed on that date. During the four-years’ war the life of Parliament was similarly prolonged by special legislation. When tbe Commons was elected in January, 1911, it continued in existence until Novembei 25, 1918. .. COASTAL COMMAND WELL-DESERVED TRIBUTE (British Official Wireless.) (RUGBY*, September 16. (Received September 17, at 10.10 a.m.)] Sir Archibald Sinclair passed the following message to the Coastal Command: “I have been asked by the War Cabinet to conyey to all squadrons of the Coastal Command its admiration of the skill and courage with which they had carried out the arduous, hut often unspectacular tasks allotted them, and of the enterprise and success with which in recent days they have stnirk at the harbours, shipping, and coastal defences of the enemy.” ,