WAR IN AFRICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1940, Page 5

WAR IN AFRICA

THRUST INTO ABYSSINIA BY BRITISH FORCE AIR OPERATIONS IN RED SEA. VARIOUS ITALIAN CLAIMS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 10. A communique issued by the British headquarters in Nairobi. Kenya, states: “Our ground forces yesterday without loss occupied Korindal after slight opposition.” Korimlal. which is about 75 miles north-east of the northernmost point of Lake Rudolf, is roughly 100 miles inside the Abyssinian frontier.

Two of the three Italian columns which are invading British Somaliland are reported to be advancing beyond Hargeisa and Oadweina toward a range of hills in which the British arcunderstood to hold strong positions. The advancing columns include many tanks.

A communique from the British headquarters in Cairo states: “The Italian advance continues toward our main positions in Somaliland.. The other fronts are quiet.” A Royal Air Force communique in Cairo states: "We bombed shipping in Tobruk harbour yesterday, setting -a ship on fire. All of our planes returned. One of two British pilots, who were shot down in a battle on August 8. were brought back by our advance troops. “Our bombers in East Africa attacked an enemy position at Hargeisa and Turbagan Road after a reconnaissance which was carried out by French pilots accompanying the R.A.F. We also bombed anti-aircraft positions and troops in the Karin Pass area. An anti-aircraft battery is believed to have been hit. Direct hits were registered on the buildings near the air force barracks at Massawa. Our planes returned undamaged. A bomb fell near an Italian floating dock during another raid. “We raided a fuel dump near Guar and shot down an Italian fighter, and these planes also returned safely. CASUALTIES IN ADEN. “The South African Air Force bombed Neghelli, Abyssinia, destroying two grounded Italian bombers and damaging two others and setting fire to lorries. They also scored direct hits on buildings and destroyed a machine-gun post.” Italian planes raided Aden today. One soldier and three natives were killed and five soldiers and 12 natives were injured. Slight material damage was caused.

An Italian communique states: “Italian aircraft bombed the port and airfield at Berbera, hitting one ship, and setting fire to two grounded planes. Italian infantry continued their advance in British Somaliland, occupying Aduein. a camel caravan highway to Berbera. Planes effectively bombed the railway station at Mersa-Matruh, Egypt, and also a concentration of enemy mechanised units’ positions at Barrani, Egypt. "It is reliably stated that Italian bombers badly damaged the British battleship Resolution and also a British destroyer at Formentera, in the Balearic Islands.”

BRITISH RAIDING MANY SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS. ON ENEMY CONCENTRATIONS & BASES. (Received This Day. 10.7 a.m.) RUGBY. August 11.

A R.A.F. communique, issued at Cairp, states: "Military camps and motor transport concentrations in the Gabra and Sales area have been successfully attacked by our bombers, all of which returned safely. “The wreckage of a Savoia bomber has been washed ashore near Qasaba. It is believed to be the aircraft which was reported to have been intercepted and damaged by our fighters on August 4. “In East Africa the Barnetu aerodrome and dispersed aircraft have been bombed and machine-gunned.

“A formation of Savoia bombers raided the R.A.F. landing grounds at Port Sudan, without causing damage or casualties to the R.A.F. personnel.

“In a raid on the Karrim Pass, in Somaliland, bombs fell among antiaircraft positions, some of which were silenced. Our aircraft returned safely. “Enemy troop concentrations and an important water-hole near Dubats. were attacked twice, bombs being seen to fall on a motor transport column. “Three Savoias raided Aden, causing slight material damage and killing two natives.”