BRITISH BOMBARDMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 7

BRITISH BOMBARDMENT

MANY TARGETS HIT FIGHTING IN LIBYA WITHDRAWAL OF ENEMY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel Copyright) LONDON, August 18 An Admiralty communique, according to a British official wireless message, states: “The commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean reports that a British naval force under his command, consisting of battleships and cruisers, yesterday morning bombarded Bardia and Fort Capuzzo in Libya, near the Egyptian frontier, and other military objectives in the vicinity. Fleet Air Arm aircraft were used for spotting during the bombardment, and they reported that many salvoes hit the targets. “Following these bombardments, k the Fleet was subjected to heavy bombing attacks by Italian aircraft, but these caused no damage or casualties in the fleet. At least 11 enemy bombers were seen by ships to fall into the sea, shot down by the British fighter escort.” It is announced from Cairo that the Italians have withdrawn from Fort Capuzzo.

A Rome communique stated yesterday: “Friday’s fierce day of bloody battle for the conquest of British Somaliland marked the culminating point of the campaign. The enemy is recreating all along the front.” The Italian High Command announced: “The British defence system in Somaliland has fallen after an encirclement action on the two wings.” The War Office in London yesterday was unable to give any information regarding the operations in Somaliland. The German Version A German short-wave broadcast In English yesterday morning represented London as in a panic, with fires and explosions everywhere. The truth is that Londoners took the day’s raids calmly, and went to shelters unhurriedly, police and wardens directing pedestrians to the nearest place available. Watch was kept from high buildings for fires. Traffic in the West End continued . throughout the raid. Friday night passed in London without incident, but a raider made what is described as “a deliberate and cold-blooded attack against a sleeping town on the south-west coast of England” in bright moonlight. Nine heavy bombs fell, all in a residential district, damaging a number of houses I and small shops, but there were no I 4 casualties. I ' k