CAIRO REPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1940, Page 6

CAIRO REPORT

SUCCESSFUL BRITISH AIR RAIDS ITALIAN ATTACKS ON MALTA. VERY .SLIGHT DAMAGE DONE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day. 9.20 a.m.) CAIRO, July 25. A communique states that the R.A.F. yesterday successfully bombed a .large ammunition dump south of Bardia, when several direct hits were scored, causing blue flashes. Part of the dump was completely blown away. Gladiators covering the bombers met a large formation of fighters and definitely shot down four and another is unlikely to reach its base. All our bombers returned but one fighter is missing. A direct hit was scored on a hangar during a raid on Macaca and two other hangars were severely damaged. A fight between a Sunderland flyingboat and an Italian lighter ended when the Italian dived, out of control. Another R.A.F. communique states: “All our machines have now returned safely from a raid on Macaca. “Two enemy raids on Malta resulted in very slight damage. It is reported that an enemy bomber probably was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire.” ITALIAN CLAIM (Received This Day, 9 a.m’.) > ROME. July 25. The Rome radio announced that considerable damage was caused to the British cruiser Gloucester, in an engagement near Crete on 'July 19. The alleged casualties included the Commander and nine other officers. VICTORY AT ODDS AGAINST EIGHTEEN ENEMY FIGHTERS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 1.17 p.m.) RUGBY, July 25. A R.A.F. communique issued in Cairo states that a Gladiator fighter reported missing has been found. The pilot is safe. The aircraft was compelled to make a forced landing on our side of the line. This means that in an engagement in which six of our fighters met eighteen enemy fighters, we succeeded in shooting down four enemy aircraft, with a possible fifth, without the loss of a man or machine. In addition, a highly successful raid was carried out today by Blenheims on Derna. Over fifty enemy fighters were found on the ground and undispersed. All the bombs fell among them, causing considerable damage. A fighter patrol of five Gladiators, protecting the returning bombers, encountered seven enemy fighters and shot five down into the sea. All our aircraft returned safely: