ENEMY HEAVILY BOMBED

Southland Times, Issue 24236, 20 September 1940, Page 5

ENEMY HEAVILY BOMBED

No Native Troops In

Advance

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, September 18.

The latest communique issued today from General Headquarters at Cairo states that during yesterday and last night the enemy have been engaged in consolidating positions in and around Sidi Barrani, where they have been heavily and successfully bombed.

The British United Press correspondent in Cairo says that the Italians are moving up, hugging the coastline. They are reported to have reached the oasis of Sidi Omar, 26 miles from Solium. The two columns which have reached Sidi Barrani are reported to be composed of light tanks, of which the military authorities have not a high opinion.

The troops are metropolitan forces and there are no natives, ITiey are strongly supported by artillery mounted on trucks. The Italian water supply is apparently' efficient. It has enabled a rapid advance in spite of the fact that the wells nearby have been made useless. The Egyptian newspaper Alm Sri says: “The Western Egyptian desert is destined to be the burial ground of Fascism. The Italians must cross 400 miles before reaching the Nile.” Le Journal de Egypt says: “The Italian advance cannot be described as an attack as no opposition has yet been offered.” Four Italian bombers returning from the raid on Tel Aviv made a forced landing on the Turkish coast on September 9. One nose-dived into the sea and was not seen again. Two floated for three hours. Six members, of the crew are believed to have been drowned, an Italian Red Cross plane rescuing the remainder. The engine of the fourth plane cut out as a result of the failure of the lubricating system, but it made a good landing. WORK OF MINE LAYING AIRCRAFT (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, September 18. The crews of British aircraft which night after night have been laying minefields in enemy-occupied harbours and territorial waters from the Norwegian coast to the Bay of Biscay were given a thorough training in their work before ever the first mine was laid. They made long reconnaissance flights over the areas and became familiar with the routes and the peculiarities of the various coastlines. That minefields have been laid with only one or two losses in aircraft is a high tribute to the skill of the navigators and the tenacity of the pilots. Besides carrying mines, the aircraft engaged in these expeditions also carry bombs in case an enemy supply ship be met. Two nights ago the captain of one aircraft reported on his return that he had bombed a supply ship of about 7000 tons. “My navigator,” he said, “was certain that a direct hit was scored and that the vessel was sunk.” On the same night, an enemy tanker was attacked with two high-explosive bombs and afterwards machine-gunned. The first bomb scored a direct hit oip the after part of the ship, while the second missed the vessel by 10 yards. Though the actual end was not observed the ship was obviously' damaged and was forced to stop. Incidents such as these, says an Air Ministry bulletin, help to relieve the monotony of sea crossing, but the crews engaged in these operations know that their main job is minelaying and nothing is allowed to divert them from it.” SAN MARINO AGAINST BRITAIN ROME, September 18. A proclamation in San Marino has ended the 25 years’ paper war which the tiny republic has waged against Germany. War has now been declared on Britain. The two Captains-Regent, addressing the cheering populace, declared that the army was in splendid fighting trim. It consists of 39 officers and 950 rankers.