ITALIANS FARE BADLY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1940, Page 5

ITALIANS FARE BADLY

IN VARIOUS AFRICAN ENCOUNTERS BRITISH CAPTURES OF MErl & MATERIAL. CRUISER HEAVILY DAMAGED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 25. Though no niajoi' military operations have yet been undertaken in Africa, it is clear that the minor encounters will, the Italian troops have so far resulted, in substantial British successes. In air combat the Italians have given a poor account of themselves, and their performance seems to confirm the belief that the training of Italian pilots and staff has been relatively inadequate. ■ On the Kenya front the border town of Mayale has been successfully raided several times and stores there have been captured. At El Wak an attack succeeded in destroying the Italian barracks and ammunition stores, and before withdrawing our troops repulsed a strong counter-attack by the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties. On the Sudan front the garrison at Mettema was attacked by our troops, assisted by Abyssinians, and 50 casualties were inflicted on the enemy. From our base at Kassala an attack was made upon a column of Italian colonial troops, who were routed with the loss of 25 killed and 10 captured. On the British Somaliland front there have been only skirmishes, but those have invariably resulted in our irregular troops gaining the advantage. In both Italian East Africa and Libya repeated air attacks have destroyed parked aircraft belonging to the enemy, ammunition dumps, petrol stores and aircraft workshops.

We captured three frontier posts on the Libyan front. Our armoured patrols penetrated deeply behind the enemy front lines and the enemy’s surprise in every case has been complete. Our losses have been small, whereas the enemy has suffered considerably on several occasions, and we have captured 25 Italian officers, including the senior engineer-general of the Tenth Army, and 600 other ranks. Twelve light tanks have' been captured or destroyed and much other material taken.

Many of the Libyans conscripted into the Italian forces who have-fallen into our hands have expressed the hope that we will allow them to join our ranks and fight for the liberation of their country from Italian tyranny.

A quantity of shipping concentrated in Tobruk harbour was attacked with success, and the cruiser San Giorgio suffered heavy damage.

ALARM IN CAIRO BUT NO PLANES SIGHTED (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) ‘ CAIRO, June 26. There was an air raid alarm, which lasted for 45 minutes, early in the morning but no planes were sighted. BRITISH PATROLS REPORTS OF CONTINUED ACTIVITY. MANY LIBYANS HOSTILE TO ITALIANS. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) CAIRO, June 26. ' A statement issued from general headquarters says: “Patrol activity continues on the Libyan coastal front. Our patrols advanced north-west from Jarabub. Three Egyptian soldiers were killed and eighteen wounded during the Mersa Matruh raid on June 23. There were no British casualties. The Libyans are showing reluctance to fight for the Italians, and many mobilised natives refuse to wear the Italian uniform.”

ROME COMMUNIQUE AIR AND OTHER OPERATIONS. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) ROME, June 26. The general headquarters of the armed forces have issued a communique stating: “There is nothing worthy of mention on the metropolitan front or in North Africa. “In East Africa there have been unsuccessful British attempts to bomb Asmara and Diredawa. Two enemy planes were shot down. “An attempted air raid on Naples was foiled by the intervention of our pursuit planes and anti-aircraft guns, which put the enemy to flight.”