ITALIAN BASES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 38, 25 November 1940, Page 5

ITALIAN BASES.

TARANTO AGAIN ATTACKED. NAVAL UNIT BOMBARDS GAMP. LONDON, November 24. British bombers have again struck against Italy, their objectives being Taranto and Bardi, whence equipment is being sent to Albania. A big fire was started on a pier, and incendiary bombs caused fires at an oil r.eliifery. .

A Royal Air Force communique from Cairo reveals that Royal ‘Air Force bombers on Friday raided Tepeleni. an important strategic point on the road from Valona to Argyrokastron. Royal Air Force reconnaissance aeroplanes were also active over Albania, securing, valuable data. ®. The .British and Greek dive-bombers.,bombed, -a mechanised supply train ant] armoured units in the Argyrokastron .Valley, scattering the drivers to the bills and allowing Greek cavalry ,to capture many units intact and enabling the Greek left flank to rush on, increasingly menacing the retreating Italiaii divisions.

A communique from General Headquarters in Cairo states that British patrols, supported by artillery, continued activities in the area between Gallabat and Metemma. There is no change on other fronts. Great Enthusiasm in Cairo. Tho Cairo , correspondent of the “Daily Express’’ says the Greek advance resulted in a tremendous flare up of enthusiasm in Cairo and the big Arab cities. . Crowds in the , Cairo theatres- cheered themselves hoarse.

The newspaper “Albalagh” asserts that Italy has been diverted from the Egyptian theatre of war, for which reason it is most unlikely that Marshal Graziani will attack towards the Nile this winter. Other comriientators for the first time emphasise that a population of more than 60,000,000 embracing Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Palestine, and Jugoslavia, is opposing the Axis thrust to the Mediterranean.

King Farouk engaged in a series, of conferences with members of the Cabinet on the attitude to Italy in view of the bombing of Egyptian civilians. The Admiralty states that the following has been received from the Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean: “On the night of November 20 a naval unit, assisted by air co-opera-tion, successfully ’ bombarded Maktila camp, oil the Libyan coast, for an hour. Three large fires were started. The enemy returned the fire, but there were no casualties,”

A further communique says patrol activity continues on the Sudan front, British detachments inflicting many casualties with little loss to themselves.

Australian Pilots in Action. In tho first aerial battle botAvcen the Royal Australian Air Force and tho Italians in the Middle East, the Dominion flyers gave a most excellent account of themselves Avhon they destroyed three for certain and probably two more of their opponents. Four Royal Australian Air Force machines Avere returning from patrol over enemy territory Avhen they encountered 17 Italian fighters giving protection to troops on the ground. There Avas one casualty on the Australian side —a squadron leader avlioso Gladiatpr Avqs soon to. crash after an engagement Avith tAA'o Italian C.R. 42’s.

An Italian communique says:— “Enemy air raids on the Gulf of Boma caused some damage. Raids on Bardia and Derna had no results. Wc bombed an aerodrome at Rose ires, Port Sudan, and an enemy position beyond Gallabat, causing a violent fire at the latter place. Our aeroplanes brought doAvn two of five Glosters Avhieh .. attacked them. The enemy bombed Kassala, setting fire to field hospitals.”