BRITISH RAIDS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21219, 16 September 1940, Page 8

BRITISH RAIDS

FIGHTING IN AFRICA AERODROMES DAMAGED (Ofllclal Wireless) (Received Sept. 16, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 15 A Royal Air Force communique issued at Cairo states: An 579 aircraft was shot down by one of our fighters over the Mediterranean on September 11. On September 12 aircraft of the South African Air Force raided aerodromes in Central Abyssinia. At Gimma there was a direct hit on a hangar and fires broke out among the buildings, one Caproni aircraft being destroyed and another extensively damaged. At Sciascimanna the headquarters building was hit, one Savoia aircraft being destroyed and three others damaged. A motor transport convoy was machine-gunned. From these operations one of our aircraft failed to return. Royal Air Force bombers raided Somaliland and Eritrea on September 13. At Berbera bombs fell on the European quarter and at Assab there was a direct hit on the harbour jetty. At Gura and Asmara aerodromes were attacked and buildings set on fire. Enemy fighters attempted to intercept without success. Another fire was started at Massawa. EXPECTED ANY TIME BRITISH FORCES READY (United Press Asn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 14 A Cairo headquarters communique says the Italian assault may come at any time, although there is no special reason to believe an attack is imminent. The British forces in Egypt and the Sudan are fully prepared for developments. Some enemy movements toward the Libyan frontier have been observed. Similar movements are reported from Kassala, which it was expected the Italians might use as a base for the extension of penetration to the Sudan. However, the moving up of units in Libya may merely be designed to prevent our continued penetration which is describable as a running sore, constantly causing casualties in men and material. Damage In Libya A Royal Air Force communique says the Bomba seaplane base was attacked during a series of raids in eastern Libya. Bombs fell in the anchorage and a large fire broke out on a jetty. Fires were visible for 30 miles after the bombing of a transport concentration near Didiomar. South African units raided Abyssinian aerodromes, starting fires. The Royal Air Force also raided Somaliland and Eritrea, scoring a direct hit on a jetty at Assab, and also attacked the aerodromes at Gura and Asmara, and started fires at Massawa.