VITAL LINE CUT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 29241, 11 October 1940, Page 5

VITAL LINE CUT

WIDESPREAD HAVOC BOMBING BY BRITISH ITALIANS HARASSED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 9 It is reported from Aden that one of the most vital Italian supply lines in East Africa has been cut as a result of the bombing by the Royal Air Force of Aisha railway station between Jibuti and Addis Ababa. The station is about 100 miles from the coast and is the site of an important military encampment and supply depot. The Royal Air Force dropped bombs on the railway line and military buildings and also on a train. Several other important sections of the line were recently damaged. A Royal Air Force communique issued at Cairo states: “We raided the Italian landing grounds at Baraia, where bombs were seen to explode among grounded aircraft.

“We also attacked Solium. Bombs burst on barracks and buildings.

“Three attacks were delivered against Assab and direct hits were scored on the harbour, jetties, barracks and workshops. “The enemy raided Aden without causing damage. “South African aeroplanes bombed enemy machine-gun posts at Elwak. All the British aircraft returned.” Important Centres Damaged Aerial photographs reveal that the Royal Air Force has created widespread havoc at aerodromes, camps, supply depots, ports and petrol depots. French airmen attached to the Royal Air Force have done much valuable reconnoitring. A General Headquarters communique from Cairo states that all fronts are quiet. An Italian communique says the British ineffectively raided Tobruk and Bardia. Italian patrols on the Eritrean border routed Sudanese cavalry. Jibuti Facing Famine A message from Vichy says it is semi-offlcially stated that, as a result of a British warship seizing the supply ship Esperance, the French garrison at Jibuti is facing famine. The Esperance, from Madagascar, was taken to Aden and her cargo confiscated.

It was estimated at the beginning of September that the garrison’s supplies would be sufficient for only six weeks.

BRITISH BOMBERS TOWED FROM ENGLAND STORY FROM GERMANY (Uniled pres* Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) STOCKHOLM, Oct. 9 The Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet says that British bombers are able to remain over Berlin for hours because they are towed from England. The towing aeroplane slips the cable on the outskirts of Berlin and returns to England, leaving a bombladen aeroplane with full fuel tanks. Use of Captured Planes The Minister of Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, was asked in the House of Commons on Tuesday to explain the fact that fragments of bombs dropped by German raiders on Britain bore marks of British manufacture. The Minister assured the House that there was no export of bombs of British manufacture to Germany before the war, but he pointed out that such bombs had come into the possession of the German forces with other supplies captured in France. Having regard to the Nazi record from the time of the Reichstag fire, of seeking to plant crimes upon its adversaries, the matter is felt to have considerable significance. It is noted that in Holland and elsewhere there have been mysterious explosions, which German sources attributed to the Royal Air Force bombing, although the time or place, or both, was such that the British official records proved that no British aircraft could have been involved.