BRITISH HARASS ITALIANS

Southland Times, Issue 24240, 25 September 1940, Page 5

BRITISH HARASS ITALIANS

HEAVY TOLL PAID FOR ADVANCE

DESERT FORCES AWAIT MAJOR ATTACK

(Received September 24, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 23. Twenty-five pound guns, machineguns and bombers continue to take advantage of the excellent targets which the Italian supply convoys present in Egypt. The Italians have no targets in the mobile British units for retaliatory fire. The Italians pay heavy toll for every yard they advance, and for every gallon of petrol or round of ammunition brought up. Britain’s main desert forces, based on Mersa Matruh, await the moment for the major attack on the Senussi desert tribes are also poised ready to swoop on the Italian rear, fianks, bases and outposts. An Italian column has now repaired the mine-blasted roads from the Libyan escarpment. Other units are penetrating westward along the rough desert track south of the main coastal track in an attempt to protect the main advance and cover the consolidation of Solium and Sidi Barrani. The British hit hard and methodically whenever the enemy exposes himself. EGYPT’S ATTITUDE It is authoritatively stated that Britain is satisfied with Egypt’s attitude and is confident that she will take all steps that the developing situation requires. Hassan Sabry Pasha, replying to the Saadist pro-war members of the Cabinet who have resigned, said: “Your fears that the Italians intend to conquer Egypt are greatly exaggerated. Cabinet i;; opposed to throwing the country immediately into the furnace of war without evident interest or necessity. Our defence preparations are constantly being accelerated.” A Cairo message states that the authorities have begun the rounding up of all Italians in the capital. As a precaution 7000 have already been detained. Similar measures are being taken throughout Egypt, but a newspaper report that martial law has been imposed is denied. BOMBING BY BOTH SIDES A Cairo communique says: The Italians bombed Alexandria, Sidi Haneish and Mersa Matruh. Negligible damage was caused, and there were two casualties.

A Royal Air Force communique says: A raid on Benghazi resulted in a direct hit on a ship and a fire in warehouses alongside the mole. The Royal Air Force raided Menastir aerodromes and also scored a direct hit on motor-lorries in a motor transport concentration at Sidi Barrani.

The enemy raided Malta, damaging 10 village houses. They also twice attacked Aden without damage.

The Royal Air Force attacked the East African aerodromes of Maiadaga and Gura. The South African Air Force successfully raided Elkataulo and Dimo. An enemy raid on Isiolo inflicted no military or police casualties, but killed and wounded a few natives and civilians.

A naval communique says: Naval forces attacked an enemy position in the Sidi Barrani area during the early hours of September 22 with good results.

The first enemy air attack on Cyprus is recorded in a communique from the headquarters of the Cyprus troops: Hostile planes flying at a great height raided a town in the Morahou Bay area on Sunday morning. The attack lasted from 11.20 to 12.2. Bombs were dropped in the sea. Later, part of the town was machine-gunned. There were no casualties and no material damage. An air raid alarm sounded at Nicosia from 11.25 to 12.5. A Nairobi communique says: A South African Air Force squadron successfully attacked Birikau, in Italian Somaliland, for the , second time in a week. Direct hits were obtained on the camp and fires were started. Other South African aircraft carried out normal reconnaissances. From these operations all the aircraft returned safely. Early on Saturday, Italian aircraft attacked the Isioto Archers’ Post area in Kenya. Several bombs were dropped, but there were no military or Air Force casualties and no damage was done.