KS ON ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1940, Page 5

KS ON ITALY

MORE BRITISH SUCCESSES ANOTHER FOUR SUBMARINES SUNK. DESTRUCTIVE BOMBING RAIDS. British successes on land and sea and in the air are reported in the Near East, a Daventry broadcast states. Four more Italian submarines have been sunk in the Eastern Mediterranean, bringing the total number of submarines lost by Italy since she entered the war to 13. Italian bases in Africa and oil refineries and tanks in Italy have been bombed, and on land successful raids carried out in Italian Africa. In the attack by air, oil refineries in Sicily were set on fire without loss to the British machines. ENEMY REPORT (Received This Day. 9.0 a.m.) ROME. July 2. A communique states: "On the Cyrenaica borber, Italian planes bombed enemy armoured cars, setting on fire and damaging some. Two Italian planes did not return. “Italian Air Force units surprised repeatedly and very effectively bombed big enemy convoys south-east of the Mediterranean. “In the East Africa region. Italian planes effectively bombed ports of supply and stores, at Berba, in British Somaliland. Enemy planes tried to raid Massawa, but two were shot down. The Italian navy brought down another in flames. "The enemy bombed Augusta, in Sicily. Prompt defence by navy aircraft thwarted the attack. One enemy plane was shot down. The damage inflicted is insignificant.”

Massawa, but two were shot down. The Italian navy brought down another in flames. "The enemy bombed Augusta, in Sicily. Prompt defence by navy aircraft thwarted the attack. One enemy plane was shot down. The damage inflicted is insignificant.” ITALY’S NAVAL LOSSES (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) CAIRO. July 2. A naval communique states that British naval and air forces in the Eastern Mediterranean sank four Italian submarines, besides the destroyer Espero, between June 27 and June 30. TOLL OF SUBMARINES THIRTEEN ITALIAN CRAFT SUNK. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 2. The total number of Italian submarines sunk, including the four mentioned in the Cairo communique is 13. It is understood there were some survivors from four of the submarines. The Admiralty, confirming the destruction of the four Italian submarines, adds: “Near home we have also taken our toll of U-boats during the past week.” FORTY=FOUR SURVIVORS FROM LOST ITALIAN DESTROYER. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY. July 2. Cairo reports that 44 survivors were picked up from the Italian destroyer Espero which was sunk by British naval forces on June 27. DAMAGING RAIDS MADE BY BRITISH PLANES. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) CAIRO, July 2. A R.A.F. communique" States: “Our planes, pressing home an attack against Gondar, despite heavy anti-aircraft fire, set fire to one bomber and seriously damaged five others. They also set fire to buildings near the hangars. We suffered no casualties.

“A formation of bombers raided an oil refinery and oil tanks at Augusta and the refinery was set on fire. “Direct hits were secured on an enemy lorry convoy and on two gun positions in the Moyale area. “Enemy planes visited Sidi Baarrani, but there were no casualties and no damage.”