WAR IN EGYPT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21227, 25 September 1940, Page 8

WAR IN EGYPT

ATTACKS BY BRITISH ENEMY’S HEAVY TOLL ARMIES IN THE DESERT (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlgnt) LONDON, Sept. 23 British 25-pound guns, machineguns and bombers continue to take advantage of the excellent targets which the Italian supply convoys present in Egypt. The Italians, on the other hand, have no targets in the mobile British units for their retaliatory fire. The Italians are paying a heavy toll for every yard of their advance and for every gallon of petrol or round of ammunition brought up from the rear. Britain’s main desert forces are based at Mersa Matruh, where they await the moment for a major attack. The Senussi desert tribes are also poised, ready to swoop on the Italian rear and flanks and on bases and outposts. An Italian column has now repaired the mine-blasted roads from the Libyan escarpment. Other units are penetrating westward along the rough desert track, south of the main coastal track, in an attempt to protect the main advance and cover the consolidation of the Italian positions at Solium and Sidi Barrani. The British hit hard and methodically whenever the enemy exposes himself. The Egyptian authorities have begun rounding up all the Italians in Cairo as a precaution, and 7000 have already been detained. Similar measures are being taken throughout Egypt, but an earlier newspaper report that martial law had been imposed is denied. FIGHTING IN AFRICA ENEMY BATTERIES SILENCED EASTERN DESERT QUIET RAIDS ON MERSA MATRUH (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 25, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 24 A Cairo communique states: There is no change in the situation in the eastern desert. During Sunday evening our artillery silenced some enemy batteries. Mersa Matruh was raided four times during Sunday night. There were no casualties. On the other fronts there is nothing to report. Claims by. Italy An Italian communique states:— We re-bombed Mersa Matruh successfully. The British bombarded Tobruk and Bardia, slight damage being done. We bombed the Port Sudan aerodrome and also attacked the Aden airport. The British bombed a number of our aerodromes, including those at Gura, Diredawa, Adiugri, Sciasa and Oanna, All Bombs Hit Target A Royal Air Force communique issued at Cairo on Tuesday says: On Sunday our bombers attacked enemy aircraft on the Menastir landing ground. All the bombs fell in the target area. Yesterday a second attack was delivered and three explosions were seen among aircraft, followed by fires. Two raids were made on Tobruk harbour yesterday. In the first raid bombs burst among the buildings and on the jetty. During the second attack bombs were observed to fall on buildings and very close to ships moored alongside the jetty.

Zula, in Eritrea, was attacked on the night of September 21. There was a direct hit on buildings and a fire broke out immediately. Four other which were visible from a distance of twenty miles, were started in the centre of a camp. Yesterday a successful attack was made on the technical buildings and aerodrome at Mai Abaga, and resulted in direct hits on buildings and aircraft on the ground, two fighters being destroyed. Aircraft of the South African Air Force raided Sciasciamanna, in Central Abyssinia, on September 22. An enemy bomber on the ground was destroyed. MR CHURCHILL INTERVIEW WITH KING (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 25, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24 The Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, had an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace. PLANES FOR BRITAIN BIG SUPPLY FROM AMERICA (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlgnt) (Received Sept. 21*, 3.15 p.m.) BOSTON, Sept. 24 It was stated that Britain will get about 40 per cent- of the United States aeroplane output in the next eighteen months. PRICE OF PETROL BIG INCREASE IN BRITAIN (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel Copyright) LONDON. Sept. 23 The price of petrol has been increased one penny to 2s Oid a gallon, compared with Is 5d last September. Motorists in some parts of London nre finding it difficult to obtain petrol rations. Garages explain that they are unable to get normal supplies, partly because lorry drivers refuse to work during raids. Garages in outlying districts sometimes are without petrol for days. The petroleum department has made a statement that lack of sup- ! plies is also due to the bombing of garages.