HEAVY RAIDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 251, 20 September 1940, Page 7

HEAVY RAIDS

ITALIANS HINDERED. STEADY R.A.F. ATTACKS. (Rec. 9 a.m.) CAIRO, Sept. 18. An R.A.F. communique states: Enemy aerodromes, transports, concentrations and communications were again successfully dealt with yesterdav. Several hangars .were destroyed and planes set on fire ,at Benghazi aerodrome (Cyrenaica). The flames were seen from 70 miles. Bombs burst among the Sidi Barrani gun emplacements. An Italian flying boat has been shot down over the Mediterranean and the members of the crew rescued. Eritrean and Somaliland aerodromes and barracks have been successfully bombed. A South African Air Force bomber attacked Elwak on Tuesday and Wednesdav and the Birkao landing .ground on Mondav. where three buildings were demolished and the wireless station was directly hit and set on fire. DODECANESE VISITED. An R.A.F. communique issued in. Cairo to-day states; Highly successful air attacks were launched on enemy bases in the Dodecanese Islands. At Mantiza, in Rhodes, fires were started, and several explosions which were loltowed by large fires were seen at Calato. Hangars, barracks, the harbour and jetty were hit at Portolago, and at JL.eros a fuel store was hit and the fire spread along the coast. All our aircraft returned safely.. Continuous raids have been launched against the enemy from the Western Desert. Aircraft were set on fire and buildings hit at Tobruk, and large concentrations of motor transport between Solium and Sidi Barrani were set on fire. A successful attack was made on about 50 aircraft on tlie ground at EL Timimi. Bombs fell among tlie aircraft and severe damage was caused. Raids were also made on Bomba, Bardia. and a camp in the CapuzzoSoilum area. One of our aircraft is missing. Aircraft of. the South African Air Force raided the aerodrome at Mogadishu (Italian Somaliland) for the sixth time. All the bombs were dropped on hangars and buildings, and many fires were started. An attack was also made on Yaveilo (Abyssinia). One enemy bomber was destroyed, and considerable damage to hangars and buildings resulted. Three raids_ were made by R.A.F. bombers on Kassala, and one enemy fighter which attempted to intercept was damaged. Assab and Diredawa (Abyssinia) were again attacked and fires were observed.

ROME VERSION. “British naval units have started the bombardment of Italian troops between Bardia and Sidi Barnani,” states a Rome communique. “The Italian air force intervened and bombed the enemy ships, forcing them to flee. A 10-000-ton British cruiser was torpedoed from the air and seriously* damaged. We again bombed and machinegunned enemy columns and mechanised units, which are fleeing everywhere. We also bombed Mersa Matruh and other military targets. “The enemy raided Tobruk, Bomba and Benghazi and there was limited damage. The British made an air raid on Rhodes and Lercs. Many fires were started, but there were no casualties. The . British also - raided Kassala, Assab, Yavello, Mogadishu, Diredawa, Zeila and Mersa Taclai. killing seven and wounding thirteen.” Another Rome message says the Commander-in-Chief in North Africa (Marshal Graziani) has reported to Mussolini that Sidi Barrani was occupied when the enemy, after resisting inch by inch, were finally upset by an Italian pincers movement. They hurriedly retreated to Mersa Matruh, destroying muntion dumps and salting wells. The British lost over half their numerous armoured units.