DESERT FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1940, Page 6

DESERT FIGHTING

SUCCESSFUL BRITISH OPERATIONS DAILY DRAIN ON ENEMY RESOURCES. ITALIANS FORCED INTO FIXED POSITIONS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.). CAIRO, July 9. A communique states: “The successful engagement continues of enemy columns trying to take stores and water to Capuzzo, causing a daily drain on enemy resources, particularly mechanical transport. “Patrols in the Western Desert have kept contact with the enemy for five days, despite a shade temperature of 130 degrees and have forced the Italians from the desert into fixed positions, where they are now contained. Patrols'from a famous British regiment are operating 45 miles across the Libyan frontier and the Italians’ planes attack them daily. Guerillas are very active. A large force of guerillas attempted at night to capture British armoured cars and crept up barefooted to within thirty yards, when they were discovered and driven off with casualties.

AIR RECONNAISSANCE BRITISH PLANES SECURE VALUABLE DATA. DIREDAWA BOMBED AGAIN. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) CAIRO. .July 9. An R.A.F. communique states that numerous reconnaissances in the past twenty-four hours have obtained very valuable data. Our bombers raided Diredawa and made direct hits on the railway workshops. Enemy fighters vainly attempted to intercept. CAMPAIGN IN KENYA i — (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) NAIROBI, July 9. A communique states that British Moyale was again shelled intermittently yesterday afternoon.