PALMYRA ENCIRCLED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1941, Page 5

PALMYRA ENCIRCLED

PROGRESS OF THE ALLIES IN SYRIA

ADVANCES IN DAMASCUS & COAST AREAS.

ITALIAN SURRENDERS IN EAST AFRICA.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) RUGBY, June 30.

A Cairo headquarters communique states: “There is no change in Libya. “Italian forces have evacuated Chimbi, in Abyssinia. General Bertello latterly commanding the Italian troops in British Somaliland, has surrendered.

• “Cur troops have now completed the encirclement of Palmyra, in Syria. In the Damascus and coastal sectors further advances have been made. In the central sector the situation remains unchanged.”

HEAVY AIR RAIDS

ON PALMYRA & ALEPPO. DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) RUGBY. Juno 30. A R.A.F. Middle East, communique states: "Barracks, stores and buildingsat Palmyra were heavily raided by R.A.F. bombers yesterday. Bombs were dropped on runways at Aleppo among dispersed aircraft. Aircraft of a - R.A.F. squadron, flying American fighters, destroyed four Vichy aircraft on an aerodrome at Quseir and damaged other large unidentified aircraft. Later they encountered another 'aircraft in the air off Beirut and shot it down into the sea.

“Our aircraft machine-gunned and damaged five planes on an aerodrome at. Deir Ez Zor.”