ITALIAN RAID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1940, Page 5

ITALIAN RAID

INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF TEL AVIV MANY CIVILIANS KILLED. SUCCESSFUL R.A.F. ATTACKS ON ENEMY BASES. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) CAIRO, September 11. An Army communique states over ■5O civilians, including five Arab children, were killed when Italian planes raided Tel Aviv and the adjoining area, bombing indiscriminately far from military objectives. A number of houses were destroyed. Fires started were quickly controlled. The Palestine wireless, in reporting this raid, announced that 150 persons, including some Americans, were killed. Enemy planes raided Mesa Matruh, where slight damage was done but no casualties were reported, the Army communique adds. A British patrol successfully encountered a party of Banda at El Katulo on the northern frontier of Kenya. A communique issued by the R.A.F. states: “Our bombers on Monday successfully attacked aerodromes and harbours in eastern Libya. Two grounded enemy planes were destroyed by direct hits when Derna aerodrome was raided. In the El Gazala, Botna and El Timi areas bombs fell among planes on slip ways. Columns of smoke 1500 feet high followed explosions after an attack on objectives in the Tobruk, El Gabbi and El Aden areas. All the planes returned from all these operations. “Enemy bombers raided Siddi Barrani on Monday. There were no casualties. The R.A.F. attacked Dessie, where military buildings were destroyed. Enemy fighters unsuccessfully attempted to intercept. Asab, Massawa, Asmara, the Abdel Kader Peninsula and Metemme were all raided. One Caproni was shot down.” The casualties in the Italian air raid on Tel Aviv, Daventry reports, were 112 people killed and 151 wounded. Fifty-nine children were among the total casualties. An American citizen was killed, besides a number of Jews who formerly resided in the United States, and seven Arabs. MANY CASUALTIES RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT BOMBED. ARAB VILLAGE ALSO SUFFERS. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) JERUSALEM, September 11. One hundred and twelve people were killed and 151 injured when enemy planes carried out an intensive raid on Tel Aviv. Bombs fell in a residential district, demolishing several houses and starting fires. A number also were killed and injured in an adjacent Arab village.