GREAT PUNISHMENT BY BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21224, 21 September 1940, Page 9

GREAT PUNISHMENT BY BRITAIN

LAND, SEA AND AIR BOMBARDMENT HEAVY TOLL OF MEN, MACHINES AND SUPPLIES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 20 The Italian forces marching on Egypt are suffering severely under an unceasing bombardment from land, sea and air, which is taking heavy toll of their men and machines and causing havoc to their supply convoys. This punishment is being inflicted in spite of the boast by the Italian leader, Marshal Graziani, that his men have marched and fought on only one litre of water a day. While the Italians are consolidating their supplies they have not attempted to advance from Sidi Barrani, says a message from Cairo. The bombardment by the three British fighting Services has been intensified. The Royal Air Force is now using aeroplanes of the modern longrange type, carrying heavier loads for long distances. The bombing of Benghazi, on the coast of Libya, is the first evidence of this new power. It is officially stated that Tuesday’s fighting was much heavier than at first reported. The Italians, pouring in to Sidi Barrani too rapidly, made the first blunder in an excellently organised march. Both the Royal Air Force and British artillery caught them before they were ready, and solidly plastered their congested troop-carriers, supply waggons and tanks. The wreckage was too drastic yet to be estimated.

Hit-and-Run Raid,. The British light mechanised patrols simultaneously carried out a manoeuvre in which they must now be the world’s experts, namely, cutting in with a series of high-speed

hit-and-run raids. Bren gun carriers, spurting across the desert at 40 miles an hour, ploughed a furrow through the long Italian column, then dashed off in clouds of dust. The Royal Air Force chose this moment for its deepest raids inte Libya. The machines made their first 1000-mile return flights to Benghazi, roasting the aerodrome with highexplosive and incendiary bombs. The Royal Air Force now has a target all along the coast from Sidi Barrani to Benghazi, and impartially by the light of sun and moon is bombarding communication which Graziani must keep up ir he is to avoid failure. Graziani apparently has as many troops in Egypt as he can handle, and is concentrating on the supply situation, particularly petrol ana water. Tank waggons' and lorries laden with barrels are lumbering along the dusty tracks.