SEVERELY HARRIED

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1940, Page 7

SEVERELY HARRIED

ADMISSION BY ITALIANS BRITISH FORCES ATTACK Rec. 8 p.m. Rome, Sept. 17. The Italian forces are reported at Rome to have passed Buqbuq, a coastal village 30- miles east of Sollum. Harassing fire from British planes and motorised units is believed to have been severe. An Italian communique stated: "The Italian vanguard occupled Sollum and pushed beyond it, destroying approximately 50 enemy armoured cars and tanks. The retreating units set fire toj numerous supply depots and suffered j ■serious iosses by air. "Italian bombers have intensified their attacks in the region of Sidi Barrapi and Mersa Matruh in the last 48 hours, repeatedly hitting the supply organ.sation of an important place in Egyptian territory and destroying many units of the armoured division. "We arried out dive-bombing attacks against Halfar airport in Malta, hitting anti-aircraft batteries, sheds and equipment. A big explosion and a large fire were observed. Italian escort planes engaged dive-bombers which counterattacked. One British pla,.e was shot down. All of our planes returned. "Italian motor torpedo-'ooato sank a submarine in the eastern Mediterranean. A cruiser was hit o\ a medium bomb. We bombed troop sheds at Goaregeb and natives at Metemma and routed a caravan led by an Australian captain trying to enter Italian territory."