CEASELESS ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 October 1941, Page 5

CEASELESS ATTACKS

ON ENEMY SUPPLY ROUTE IN MEDITERRANEAN R.A.F. & NAVY BUSY TRIPOLI BOMBED HEAVILY LIGHT FROM BLAZING TANKER. LONDON, October 7. There is more news from the Middle East of ruthless devastation of the enemy’s precarious supply route in the Mediterranean. On Sunday night an effective attack was made by the R.A.F. on Tripoli. Within a few minutes a stick of bombs fell on a big tanker in the harbour. An orange flame lit up the vessel and burning oil spread over the water. Bombs continued to fall on ships, barges and other objectives in the harbour, which was illuminated by the great bonfire started by our aircraft. Another main target the same night and on the previous night was Benghazi, where explosions proved that direct hits had been made on shipping.- A hail of bombs fell on or near vessels and the quay. At Bardia a motor transport workshop and munition dump were the chief targets. Other aircraft attacked enemy aerodromes. From all these operations three of our aircraft are missing.

SUPPLY SHIPS NUMBER SUNK OR DAMAGED. BY BRITISH SUBMARINES & FLEET AIR ARM. LONDON, October 6. Out of eleven ships encountered by the Navy in the Mediterranean, at least four never reached the North African coast. Submarines sank an Italian torpedo boat, a supply ship, an escort vessel and ' a sailing ship. Two tankers, two transports, and three supply ships were hit. Early on Sunday morning planes of the Fleet Air Arm struck another swift blow at enemy supplies when they sighted a convoy of four merchant ships of between 8,000 and 10,000 tons and two of between 4,000 and 6,000 tons, escorted by five destroyers. The British planes took the enemy by surprise and left two ships sinking and a third damaged. R.A.F. COMMUNIQUE RAIDS MADE ON SICILY. HEAVY DAMAGE TO LIBYAN BASES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, October 7. A R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “On the night of October 5 R.A.F. heavy bombers attackedshipping in Tripoli harbour. A large oil tanker was set on fire and burning oil spread over a large portion of the harbour and smoke made observation of the rest of the bombing difficult. Direct hits, however, were seen on two other vessels and a group of lighters near the West Quay.

“On the same night naval aircraft attacked enemy aerodromes and seaplane bases at Mai'sala, Catania and Gerbini (in Sicily). A number of enemy aircraft were severely damaged. “On the previous night other naval aircraft carried out an offensive patrol over Trapani and Marsala. Gun positions were machine-gunned, floatplanes were attacked and several damaged, and hangars and slipways were bombed. Warehouses at Locata were attacked on the return journey.

“Benghazi was subjected to heavy attacks on the nights of October 4 and 5. A hit on a ship, south-east of the Mole D’ltalia, caused a fire and an explosion and other hits on another ship and the outer mole were followed by terrific explosions. Bombs fell near other vessels and on quays. “The Benina aerodrome and the landing ground at' Barce were attacked. Repair shops and power stations were set on fire.

“The motor transport workshop at Bardia was bombed on October 6. Ammunition dumps in a north-west town were attacked. South African Air Force fighters, while on an offensive patrol in the Sidi Omar area, engaged a large force of Messerschmitt 109 s, shooting down one and severely damaging others. “From all the. above-mentioned operations three of our planes are missing.”