ADVANCE ON EGYPT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24406, 18 September 1940, Page 7

ADVANCE ON EGYPT

ITALIAN MOVEMENTS BRITISH NAVAL ACTIVITY COAST ROADS SHELLED (United Press Association) (Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 17. (Received Sept. 18, at 1 a.m.) The Times correspondent on the Italian frontier says it is officially announced from Rome that the Italian offensive in Egypt Is timed to coincide with the German thrust against Britain. Despatches from Addis Ababa state that the Italians are advancing across the Egyptian frontier at several points and are throwing in regulars, Black Shirts and mechanised units, as well as camel corps from Libya. The beginning of the offensive is marked by the end of the desert storms which in recent weeks have stirred up powdery sand, rendering impossible the use of motorised vehicles (even tanks because of their weight), sand filtering into the engines. Italian pilots report that the British are rushing up \bkzd naval units from Alexandria and other parts of the Mediterranean and have begun shelling the roads leading to Alexandria, along which the Italians are reported to he fighting their way. It is also indicated that Marshal Graziani's push to Egypt will be followed by general activity by the Italian Armv aaainst Kenya, as well as along the border of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The possibility of " expeditionary action " from the air is also reported from Rome. , -.- The Cairo correspondent of The. Times says it is understood that the Egyptian Government views the new situation with equanimity.. It is generally accepted that the Egyptian forces have a place in the scheme of defence and that Egypt will-play her part when called on. A French unit formed in Egypt from the followers of General De Gaulle is among the troops facing.the Italians. It includes professional soldiers, reservists, Foreign Legionaires and natives from Senegal. .•"'."■"•

PUSHING EASTWARD THE \ ITALIAN ADVANCE FOLLOWING COASTAL ROAD HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED CAIRO, Sept. 17. (Received Sept. 17^'at 10.30 p.m.) The Italians, using picked motorized units as a spearhead, have continued to push eastward from Buqbuq, despite serious losses. German experts are assisting General Graziani. Many native Libyan units have been included in the consolida'tory forces at Solium. The Italians, who are following the coastal road, have ho reason to pause at Buqbuq, which is at present depopulated and without water. British advance troops have made contact with strong. detachments of Italian armoured vehicles near Buqbuq, a dried-up well, halfway between Solium and.Sidi Birani. The Italian advance is proceeding slowly and while.strong armoured units are pushing forward the main forces are consolidating their positions, around Solium. .-': .The. Royal Air Force successfully bombed a motor transport column hear Buqbuq, and started fires which couid be seen -40 miles away. Another- column . moving eastwards from Buqbuq was also attacked and again many fires were started. There has been no further news .of the threatened Italian advance on the ; .Sudan : from the south-east corner of Libya and Eritrea, and these forces are apparently awaiting a move by Marshal Graziani in the north; ' "..'■' ' Cairo had' an air raid warning lasting for 45 minutes this morning. This is the first for two months. Cairo is only partially blacked-out as it is' an open town, and it is hoped that it will escape bombing as a holy place of the Moslems.

BRITISH AIR ATTACKS ITALIAN PLANES DESTROYED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE NUMEROUS PETROL FIRES (British Official Wireless) . RUGBY, Sept. 16. (Received Sept, 17, at 7,30 p.m.) A Royal Air Force communique issued in Cairo on Monday, says: " R.A.F. bomber and fighter forces were active in Libya and the western desert area yesterday. Our fighters shot down six enemy bombers, a loss which has been confirmed, and probably three others. One of our aircraft failed to return. Last night a large motor transport column was successfully attacked near Buqbuq Numerous petrol fires were started and were visible 100 miles away An enemy vehicle column moving eastwards along a track, east of Buqbuq, was bombed yesterday. Bombs were observed to fall on the column and many fires could be geen 40 miles away. "Enemy aircraft attacked one of our aerodromes without result and did not do any damage. In two enemy raids on Malta immateriai damage was caused, and an enemy dive bomber was damaged by our fighters. In Eritrea a bomber attacked Assab naval barracks and fires were started. Direct hits were registered on hangars and buildings in Gurra, and in a further attack in Adiveri and Gurra, aerodromes, hangars and buildings were set on fire, the blaze being visible 50 miles away. In spite of poor weather conditions Asmara was attacked and two big fires were started in aerodrome buildings. A 79 which attempted to raid Aden was intercepted by our fighters arid damaged."

Italian Communique A communique issued in Rome 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 olanes engaged dive-bombers which counter attacked. One British plane wasshot down. All . ours returned safely. . "Italian motor torpedo boats sank a submarine in the Eastern Mediterranean. A cruiser was hit by medium bomb. We bombed troop sheds at Gosregeb. Natives at Metemma routed a caravan led by an Australian caDtain trying to enter Italian territory."