NAVAL BASE BOMBED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 211, 14 June 1940, Page 5

NAVAL BASE BOMBED.

THE R.A.F. IN NORTH AFRICA. ; LARGE WARSHIP ON FIRE. : ;' h . LONDON', Juno 13. The Italian naval- base at Tobruk, on the North African coast, 70 miles west of the Egyptian frontier, and the. Italian port of Massawa, on the coast of Eritrea, were among the objectives bombed by machines of the Middle East Command of the Royal Air Force yesterday.-’'" ,T; ’’ ' I At Massawa, a petrol dump was set on fire,, and‘at Tobruk a large warship was set on fire, two submarines were. bit and a large number of other vessels were severely damaged'. Italian fighters and guns were completely unable to cope' witli the situation. One Italian aeroplane was shot down in flames and another was seen plunging through the clouds out of control. There were no British losses.

The second war communique, issued - in Rome says that Italian aviation bombed Bizerte, in Tunisia, and during" the night raided Toulon, in _ France, . causing considerable damage. An Italian submarine in tlie terranean sank an enemy cruiser and a 10,000-ton tanker. It admits that the British bombed Tobruk and Gyrenaica, causing slight losses, including damage to air fields and an’ltalian minesweeper. The communique adds that ;the British bombed air fields at Askara, Adiugri, Agordat, and Gura, lulling 10 jpersons. All the Italian aeroplanes participating in the bombing raids returned safely to their respective bases after destroying six British aeroplanes'' at Cyrenaica. The bombing at Bizerte ; caused an ; outbreak of fijre and, also destroyed nine French aeroplanes and part of the aerodrome. There have been no reports of Italian retaliation on objectives in Egypt. An Italian attack on Aden was a failure, most of the bombs falling into; the sea or on the rocks.

British sources state that only-slight damage was done at Malta as a result of the Italian bofiibing. It- -is strongly defended by British and regular Maltese troops, also artillery and anti-aircraft guns. It is officially announced that 30 civilians were killed and 30 wounded, and ’ seven soldiers wounded in the raids-.-' --■ ; - ' : ' '