EASTWARD DRIVE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 249, 18 September 1940, Page 7

EASTWARD DRIVE.

ITALIANS HARASSED

■TRANSPORTS ATTACKED,

: cairo, Sept. 17. Tho Italians using picked motorised units as a spearhead, .have continued their push eastward lrom tho coastal village of Buqbuq, 30 miles east of Solium, despite serious losses. German experts are assisting Marshal Graziani, and many native Libyan units are included in the consohdatory forces at Solium. The Italians are following the coastal road and have no reason, to pause at Buqbuq, which at present is depopulated and is without water. A Royal Air. Force communique issued in Cairo yesterday says: “R.A.F. bomber and fighter forces were active in Libya and the Western Desert area on Sunday. Our fighters shot down six enemy bombers, the loss of which has been confirmed, and probably three others. One of our aircraft failed to return.

“On Sunday night a large motor transport column was successfully attacked near Buqbuq. Numerous petrol fires wore started and were visible 100 miles away. An enemy vehicle column moving eastward along the track cast of Buqbuq was bombed. Bombs were observed to fall on the column and., many fires could be seen 40 miles away. V

“Enemy. aircraft attacked one of our aerodromes without result, and did not do any damage. Tn two enemy raids, on Malta immaterial damage was caused and an enemy dive-bomber was damaged by our fighters. RAIDS ON ERITREA.

“In Eritrea R.A.F. bombers attacked the Assail naval barracks and fires were scaried. Direct Juts were registered on hangars and buildings in (jura and in a further attack on the Adiveri and Gura aerodromes hangars and buildings were set on lire, uie blaze being visible 50 miles away, in spite of poor weather conditions. Asmara was attacked and two big liras were started in the aerodrome buildings. A 70 which attempted to raid Aden was intercepted by our fighters and damaged.” A Rome communique says the Italians are reported,td have reached Buqbuq. Harassing fire from Britisii planes and motorised units is believed to have been severe. .“Italian bombers have intensified their attacks in the region of. Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh during the past 48 hours, repeatedly hitting the supply organisation of an important place in Egyptian territory,” adds the report. “They destroyed many units of an armoured division.” ‘ British casualties in the campaign in British Somaliland have been announced as 33 killed, 71 wounded, and 49 missing. The enemy’s losses’ are estimated to have" been ten times as great.'