SAID TO BE ADVANCING ON ALEPPO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1941, Page 5

SAID TO BE ADVANCING ON ALEPPO

Successful R.A.F. Attack on Bases in Rhodes ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED OR DAMAGED CONTINUED AIR OFFENSIVE IN NORTH AFRICA z LONDON, June 11. A British armoured column advancing up the Valley of the Euphrates is now 70 miles inside the Syrian frontier. There is a modern airfield at the point reached. A Turkish report states that a British force is advancing from the west, parallel with the Syrian-Turkish frontier and that it may combine with the force in the Euphrates Valley in an advance on Aleppo. These reports are not officially confirmed. A Cairo communique reports a heavy and successful attack on enemy bases on the island of Rhodes, where direct hits were made on hangars and a large petrol fire started. Two an era were burnt out and a number of others were destroyed or damaged by bombs. Explosions and fires occurred round the airfield. , , , . „ .. A British mobile column has reached the terminus of the Iraq oil pipe line. The position throughout Iraq is quiet. The staff of the Italian Legation left Bagdad today, after an official announcement that the Iraq Government had broken off diplomatic relations with Italy. The R.A.F. has continued its offensive against enemy bases in North Africa. Benghazi Harbour was attacked again and hits obtained on shipping and a mole. Aerodromes and landing grounds were also attacked. Concentrations of aircraft were bombed and fires were started amongst others by machine-gun fire. Enemy motor transport was attacked by machine-gun fire and 30 vehicles destroyed. An enemy raid on Tobruk and some patrol activity on the Egyptian frontier were also reported. A German aircraft, apparently on a reconnaissance flight over Alexandria, was shot down by a fighter. Not one British machine has been lost in these operations in the Middle East.’