NAVAL BOMBARDMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1940, Page 6

NAVAL BOMBARDMENT

ITALIAN UNITS DESTROYED

EAST OF SIDI BARRANI, GRAZIANI’S PROBLEMS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CAIRO, October 26. British naval .forces, cooperating with the R.A.F., successfully bombarded an enemy concentration near the coast east from Sidi Barrani yesterday, destroying motorised units and starting a large fire in a fuel dump. There were no British casualties. R.A.F. bombers yesterday demolished naval barracks at Tobuk. Various reconnaissances were successfully carried out in Eritrea and Italian East Africa. The Italian publicist, Signor Gayda, claims that the Italians have advanced 18 miles toward Mersa Matruh, and are now 36 miles from Sidi Barrani, but emphasises the enormous difficulty “facing the Italians in view of the gigantic British preparations.” He declared that despite the fact that the British forces total 250,000 in Egypt and more reinforcements are expected, and that Australia is equipping an additional three divisions the new offensive by Marshal Graziani will not be halted. Travellers reaching Aden report an l acute shortage of supplies at Massawa, Italy’s principal port on the Red Sea. Persistent bombing by the Royal Air Force may be one of the reasons why these supplies are not expected to last for more than two months. Coal is so scarce that engines are already being run on coal dust and wood charcoal. UNREST IN EAST AFRICA. Other reports from Italian East Africa speak of increasing unrest among the native population. Even the Italian newspapers do not seem to be too happy about the war in the Mediterranean zone. One, quoted by the official Stefani news agency, refers to “some inevitable Italian losses.” The newspaper discusses the difficulty of putting the Palestine oil pipe line out of action for a long period by attacks from the air and says that the Italian airmen prefer to destroy the refineries at the ports. The paper makes no claim that these refineries have already been destroyed, but it suggests hopefully that they will be at some unspecified date in the future, — SIR ARCHIBALD WAVELL PROMOTED TO GENERAL. LONDON, October 25. Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in the Middle East, has been promoted general as from October 1. EFFECTIVE BOMBING WIDESPREAD R.A.F. ATTACKS CAIRO, October 26. A communique states that the R.A.F. continued its attacks on Asmara. Two grounded planes were probably destroyed. A fire was started at Gura and explosions followed two other fires. Camp stores were attacked at Azozo in Gondar province, where explosions followed a fire. Troop concentrations near Kassala and wharves and shipping at Benghazi were bombed and hangars attacked at Berka, near Benghazi, causing several fires. All our planes returned. A headquarters communique issued in Cairo states that a British patrol outside Kassala again drove off an enemy party, which sustained casualties. ITALIANS IN SYRIA ENDEAVOURING TO WIN SYMPATHIES. LONDON, October 25. The Cairo correspondent of “The Times” says that the Italian Armistice Commission in Syria has changed its tactics. It has ceased to insist on political demands and is devoting its energy to trying to win the sympathies of the population. It is endeavouring to convince the Syrians and Lebanese that it will b» to their benefit to exchange French for Italian patronage. Italians schools are being reopened and pupils collected in motors from outlying areas, though the French schools are unable to do likewise because of the shortage of petrol. ROME COMMUNIQUE ROME, October 26. A communique Ktates: The air force bombed railway depots at Mersa Matruh, Fuka and Elbada. We also bombed the British aerodrome at Malindi. oh the Kenya coast. British planes bombed Tobruk, but there was only very slight material damage.