BOMBING IN DESERT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 253, 23 September 1940, Page 7

BOMBING IN DESERT.

THRUSTS AT ITALIANS.

CAIRO, Sept. 22. A military communique states that there lias been no change in the situation in Egypt. The anti-aircraft guns at Morsa Matruh brought down a raider.

A Royal Air Force communique says: “We raided grounded aircraft at Me.nastir in the Western Desert and caused considerable damage. A a enemy plane flew into a bursting bomb and is believed to have been destroyed. We damaged a concentration of motor transport at Sidi Barrani. The enemy raided Mersa Matruh and caused slight damage. We successfully bombed Diredawa and Berbera twice and attacked Gura aerodrome and set fire to workshops. We bombed a military post at Mersa Taclai, on the coast of Eritrea, causing severe daniage.” Italian planes ineffectually attempted to bomb the British Fleet at Alexandria early on Saturday morning, unloading explosives against the port area. All ' the bombs fell harmlessly into the sea. The planes were forced back after a 5-niinute alarm. As the R.A.F., artillery, and warships relentlessly pound Marshal Graziani’s supply columns west of Sidi Barrani, Egyptian party leaders continue to have conferences with the Government regarding a declaration of war.

EGYPTIAN LEADER’S VIEW. Ahmed Maher (Leader of the iSaadist Party and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies) who is at the head, of the campaign for Egypt’s entry into the war, in a speech said: “The enemy has invaded our country and attacked our children. We .cannot l>e onlookers. We must disregard our own strength and stand beside the strong Ally whose mighty fleet and mighty air force have astounded the world. They have proved that they are,able to frustrate the enemy in his own country and also confound him.” Four prominent Ministers in favour of declaring war have resigned and new Ministers have been appointed. It is stated that the Cabinet refuses to be rushed into decisions and is determined to await developments before declaring war. . A Djibouti message says the FrenchItalian Armistice Commission announces a barter programme whereby French Somaliland is providing food for Abyssinia. . An Italian communique states: “The British left 30 dead after a clash on the Akobo River (in the Sudan). Three Italians were injured.”