EIGHT HITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1940, Page 5

EIGHT HITS

BRITISH RAID ON ITALIAN NAVAL BASE NUMBER OF SHIPS HEAVILY DAMAGED. SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS IN OTHER AREAS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) CAIRO, July 7. A R.A.F. communique states that that the Fleet Air Arm, raiding Tobruk (the Italian naval base in Libya) on Friday scored eight hits on shipping. A subsequent reconnaissance showed that two large ships were aground, another heavily down by the stern, a smaller ship on its side, and one cruiser and another ship apparently in difficulties. It is now established that 40 per cent of the bombs in the raid against Bardia (a west Libyan port) on Saturday, landed in the middle of a large troop concentration of the enemy. A bomber fighter damaged troops and transport, and the enemy personnel was heavily machine-gunned. Our bombers raided the Zula aerodrome in Italian East Africa, set fire to two oil tanks, and also scored hits on two planes. The Fleet Air Arm, attacking the Catania Aerodrome, scored hits on two hangars, and started four fires. Bombs also fell on the aerodrome buildings and workshops. All our planes are safe. During the Bardia raid, a Blenheim pilot was wounded in an arm, and the observer was killed. The gunner who was the only member not injured, took over the controls, under the pilot’s direction and brought the plane back to its base, although he was not a trained pilot. One of the raiders against Malta on Saturday was shot down, and another damaged. Four civilians were injured. AN ITALIAN REPORT (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) ROME, July 7. A communique states: “In East Africa one enemy plane was destroyed at the airfield of Aroma and seven at the airfield of Gozregeb. The Italian raids also caused considerable damage tc hangars. “Air action at Port Tobruk was actively answered by naval anti-aircraft guns and three enemy planes were shot down. Two unloaded merchantmen. anchored in the port, were hit. “Port Bardia was attacked by British naval units, but only slight damage was done to military objectives. Oui aviation promptly bombed large enemy units.”