CONTACT WITH ENEMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 December 1940, Page 5

CONTACT WITH ENEMY

ACTION SOUTH OF SIDI BARRANI FIVE HUNDRED PRISONERS IN THAT AREA. FIGHTING ALSO IN SUDAN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, December 9. A Cairo communique today states: “In the Western. Desert advanced elements of our forces are now in contact with the enemy on a broad front. In an engagement south of Sidi Barrani we captured 500 prisoners. “Last night our patrols continued extensive activities in the Gallaba.t area, in the Sudan, while our artillery again successfully engaged enemy targets. “There is nothing to report on other fronts."

R.A.F. ATTACKS DAMAGE DONE TO ENEMY AERODROMES. SUCCESSES GAINED ALSO IN EAST AFRICA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) RUGBY, December 9. A communique from R.A.F. headquarters in the Middle East says: “In the Western Desert bomber aircraft of the R.A.F. attacked Benina aerodrome on the night of December 8. One hangar was burnt out and three other fires were started. Incendiary and high explosive, bombs also fell among aircraft dispersed north of the hangars. A large number are believed to have been damaged. One enemy aircraft was set on fire. "Aircraft of the Rhodesion squadron carried cut a bombing attack on Adarbed, in Italian East Africa. A direct hit was registered on a machine-gun post and a number of fires were started. Eombs also fell among stores and dumps. A second machine-gun post was silenced by machine-gun fire from our aircraft. During a raid on Asmara on December 7, a fire was caused and the aerodrome and hangars were hit.

“At Burria, in Italian East Africa, a bomb burst among sheds, starting a large petrol fire. Enemy fighters intercepted during the raid and one of our aircraft was shot down. The crew were seen escaping by parachute.