R.A.F. ACTIVITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1941, Page 6

R.A.F. ACTIVITIES

LAST RAIDS ON BARDIA MUCH COMBING IN OTHER AREAS. FIGHTERS ALSO BUSY (British Ol'mial Wai !<••■■ ■ (Received This Day. 11.20 nm > RUGBY. January 5 A R.A.F. communique issued in the Middle East states that during the night of January 3, and throughout yesterday. R.A.F. bombers continued to attack incessantly enemy positions in eastern Libya. "Ouv gun position." it is atHrd. ‘ received a direct hit and was silenced. During a subsequent raid last night, when 17 tens ol hontbs were dropped mi military objective,-:, our aircraft observed violent explosions in Bardia, with accompanying large (ires caused by yesterday's raiding. The jetty and harbour were the main objectives in Bardia and bombs fell well in the target area. "Our fighters maintained their active ; patrols and during two encounters ■ with ‘lie enemy three CR 42's were shot ) down m flames, and one other was ' destroyed. "A highly successful raid was made on rotid junctions and other military objectives at Elbasan. in Albania. All the bombs fell in the town and a large fire, with -heavy black smoke, was seen to break out. ’ Photographs show tha' many direct hits were made on build- ; ings. and that a number of fires were ! started. A reconnaissance flight over Tripoli |on January 1 proved that during the raid on the previous night, when shipping in the harbour was attacked, one motor vessel of 10,000 tons, which was anchored m the middle of the harbour was sunk. "Numerous were carried out on all fronts. r rom all these operations our aircraft returned. except one lighter in the Western Desert." FINE FEAT OF ARMS MR CHURCHILL'S MESSAGE (Received This Dav, 11.35 am' RUGBY. January The Prime Minister 'Mr Winston Churchill' has sent the following mesi sage, dated January 4, to the Federal I Prime Minister (Mr R G Menzies'; <"I send you heartiest congratulations I from .ill friends here upon the magi niflcent manner in winch the Austra- • ban offensive against Bartiia has openled, The piercing of the western >ec- ; tor and the capture of 5.(100 prisoners 'the number is now known to b<- at least 15.001". in itself constitute | fine feat of arms and e. 1 trm.t and j believe, the prelude to i-vti greater j success.'’ FLAG HAULED DOWN SURRENDER OF ITALIAN GARRISON. I LAST POCKETS OF RESISTANTT MOPPED UP (Received Tie !o. 140 J.ti, I LONDON Jaiiii.uy • Tht- Italian garrison at Bardia has surrendered. The Italian flag has been hauled down from the mast over Government House. I Australian infantry mopped -up thI las’. ri-m.onmj: ; nf re-t-’anc" r shortly bci«>;<- ti pm y> stvrd; y ; .an •t| l ,ngh T . f. ’.t mt-. BiiL-h b.md ip- pm- the heroic behaviour ul tlw Italian land at. i air force P.ahan llilam-i bombed and machm- -gum ... ( . .. •: J - the Ba; Im front I, . . <m; • : -... g,,i b ’ ... ~f S -a ;.