WAR IN AFRICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 June 1940, Page 5

WAR IN AFRICA

BRITISH GROUND PATROLS ACTIVE PENETRATION OF ENEMY TERRITORY. DISAFFECTION AGAINST ITALIANS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) NAIROBI, June 27. A communique states: “Our ground patrols proceeded 20 miles into Italian Somaliland without encountering opposition. Continued reports are being received from Italian Somaliland and Abyssinian that bands conscripted by the Italians wish to desert to us. A report from one of our posts states that the enemy bombed Lokitaung, on the west shore of Lake Rudolph, but no damage is reported. “Our reconnaissance aircraft have been busy over Italian Somaliland.”

ENEMY REPORT (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) ROME, June 27. A general headquarters of the Italian armed forces communique states: “Our bombing planes have successfully flown over Malta, again hitting, in destructive action, naval objectives. All our planes returned. “In North Africa repeated aerial actions occurred against enemy warehouses and motor trucks. All our planes returned. “Units of our fleet bombarded the British base at Solium, in Egypt, with considerable effectiveness. “Enemy air raids over Massawa and Assab did not achieve any results.”

FRONTIER FIGHT STRONG ENEMY FORCE REPELLED. SMALL GARRISON WITHDRAWN INTACT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. June 27. An official communique, issued in Cairo today, says: “A strong detachment of enemy troops, reinforced by tanks, attacked one of our frontier posts on the borders of Abyssinia and British Somaliland. The attack' was vigorously repulsed for four hours by a small garrison, which consisted of a police force commanded by a British officer. There were no casualties on our side, the small garrison withdrawing intact. There is nothing to report from the Libyan frontier. An official R.A.F. communique, issued in Cairo today, states: “Early yesterday morning our bombing aircraft raided, with considerable success, an aerodrome at Gura, causing heavy damage to hangars and workshops. On their return journey our aircraft had a running fight with enemy fighters for half an hour, arid as a result one enemy fighter was definitely shot down, and another was seen to dive, out of control. All our aircraft returned safely. “Blenheim bombers carried out several raids on an aerodrome and petrol dumps at Macaca. hitting both targets, but it was impossible to ascertain the extent of damage. Raids took place on military targets at Assab.” _ The communique adds: "During the twenty-four hours ending at 6 p.m. vesterday Malta experienced five air raids. Twelve civilians were wounded but the damage was slight. An enemy submarine was attacked by three Blenheim bombers and “near misses" were scored with heavy bombs. Numerous reconnaissance flights were carried out over enemy territory and many valuable photographs were obtained. All our machines returned safely.”