NO CASUALTIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 September 1940, Page 5

NO CASUALTIES

IN BRITISH OPERATIONS IN MEDITERRANEAN THOUSAND BOMBS WASTED BY ITALIANS. ENEMY REFUSES DIRECT CHALLENGE. (By Telc'graph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, September 6. The “Daily Mail’s’’ Alexandria correspondent says that throughout the entire operation in the Mediterranean there was not a single casualty among British ships, despite 1000 bombs rained from Italian bombers. Our antiaircraft guns and fighters kept the attackers at a respectful distance. Reuter’s Gibraltar correspondent says the British Fleet, steaming for five days in the Mediterranean, found no flag afloat except the White Ensign. It patrolled the Italian coast for two days within striking distance of six Italian aerodromes, but the challenge was not accepted.

MET & BROKEN ITALIAN RAIDERS ON MALTA. ONE SHOT DOWN AND TWO DAMAGED. MALTA, September 6. British fighters broke up an enemy raiding,formation, shooting down one and damaging two others so badly that they are unlikely to return to their bases. POINTED REPLY MADE TO ITALIAN BOMBAST. FORCES WHICH CONTINUALLY RUN AWAY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) RUGBY, September 6. An Admiralty communique on Thursday revealed that in the six days of naval operations in the Mediterranean, 17 enemy aircraft were shot down and at least 13 more damaged, apart from those destroyed on the ground when aerodromes were bombed. Further losses inflicted on the enemy included the torpedoing of two motor torpedo-boats and a torpedo attack on an enemy force, consisting of cruisers and destroyers. The Duce’s navy avoided further loss by beating a precipitate retreat into Taranto, so avoiding an engagement. The British losses amounted to four aircraft. In view of these events an Italian broadcast in August is felt to require some explanation. According to the Italian broadcaster, the British Mediterranean fleet is useless, as it “is paralysed by Italian action.” While it is true that the British Fleet is unable effectively to act against faster forces, which continually run away, it hardly befits the retreating navy to suggest that failure of action on the part of an opponent only too eager to come to grips is due to “paralysis.” ABORTIVE ENEMY RAIDS ON MERSA MATRUH & SUEZ. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) RUGBY, September 6. A Cairo headquarters communique states that Mersa Matruh, in Egypt, was bombed yesterday, causing slight damage, but no casualties. A few bombs were dropped on .Suez. There were no casualties. On other fronts there is nothing to report.