FIGHTING IN AFRICA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21188, 10 August 1940, Page 7

FIGHTING IN AFRICA

RAIDS BY ENEMY PLANES SHOT DOWN BY BRITISH ON LIBYA-EGYPTIAN BORDER (ornclal Wireless) (Received August 10, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 9 A war communique issued at Cairo states: “In the western desert Mersa Matruh was raided by one enemy aircraft, causing no damage or casualties. All areas are very quiet. In the Sudan on Wednesday slight damage was done by enemy aircraft at Gebeit. A few civilians were slightly injured. In Somaliland enemy columns from Hargesia and Oadweina are reported to be advancing northwards. Patrols along the coast between Berbera and Zeila report that the situation is normal. There were two entirely ineffective air raids on Berbera. There is nothing to report in Palestine and Kenya. An air battle, in which a formation of British Gladiators shot down fifteen Italian aircraft, took place some distance west of -Sideomar, on the Lybia-Egyptian border. A communique, in announcing this success at the cost of two British planes missing, continues: “Berbera was raided yesterday by three crews and later by a small formation of enemy bombers. It is reported that one of the bombers was damaged by i ground defence fire. There were no British casualties.” Our bombers on Wednesday attacked Hargesia and hits were registered on barracks and bungalows believed to contain troops. The frontier post at Elwak was raided by bombers of the South African Air Force.