IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1940, Page 5

IN THE MIDDLE EAST

CHARACTER OF MILITARY OPERATIONS LIFE MADE VERY UNPLEASANT FOR ITALIANS. ACTIVITY OF BRITISH LIGHT FORCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 12. Britisli military circles explained that while tlierc are no operations on a big scale in the .Middle East, the British forces are continuously making life extremely unpleasant for the Italians. In Libya the hot weather and dusty conditions render an offensive on a big scale by the Italians against the British forces in Egypt unlikely at present. British armoured forces after the outbreak of war with Italy immediately crossed the Libyan frontier and surprised the Italians by capturing two forts at Capuzzo and Maddalena, and the British forces for 10 days virtually dominated a zone 60 miles deep, inflicted losses on small Italian forces, and captured prisoners and occasionally guns, tanks and lorries. The Italians, who have a quarter of a million white troops in Libya, then sent fairly strong columns and reoccupied the forts. The present position is that the Italians hold the forts, but British light mobile forces are harassing their supply columns and cutting off their water supply, which reaches the forts by pipeline. More severe fighting between Italian' and British forces at Moyale, on the Abyssinia-Kenya border, is reported, a Daventry broadcast states. British reinforcements are engaged and the garrison is holding out. The R.A.F. continues to harass the Italians in Libya and Eritrea and shipping has been attacked at Tobruk. Two British planes were lost. ENEMY BASES ATTACKED BY BRITISH PLANES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 14. A R.A.F. communique, issued at Cairo, states that El Aden, El Gubgi and Bardia were raided by bombing aircraft of the R.A.F. during the weekend and shipping attacked in Tobruk harbour. The extent of the damage could not be observed, owing to poor visibility, but three fires were started at Bardia. Ammunition dumps and a petrol store near Assab were raided, and one fire was started. One of our fighters is missing. Enemy aircraft raided Aden yesterday and slight damage was done to property. Two natives were killed and four were wounded. In a successful attack against Massawa aerodrome, several direct hits were scored on a hangar and aerodrome buildings. Considerable fighter opposition was encountered. One of our aircraft has not returned. A raid on Malta was attempted by three formations of enemy fighters, but was unsuccessful owing to interception by our fighters. SEVERE FIGHTING REPORTED IN MOYALE REGION. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m'.) CAIRO. July 14. A communique states: “Our garrison is still holding out at Moyale and severe fighting continues between nearby Italian and British reinforcements. “The enemy, in considerable strength, captured the small frontier post of Abdul Ghadir, in Somaliland. “Casualties were again caused to Italian motor transport columns. attempting to supply Fort Capuzzo.”