ITALIAN REVERSES IN AFRICAN FIGHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1940, Page 6

ITALIAN REVERSES IN AFRICAN FIGHTING.

B ASES BOMBED. Sea And Land Successes Of British. . ENEMY TANKS BOUTED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, June 19. . It :s reported from Cairo that the Boy».l Air Force attacked Tessenie, . in Italian East Africa, hitting, and, it is thonght, destroying a hangar. British 'planes twice raided and bombed Raheita. The Southern Rhodesian Air Force ; bombed military posts in Southern Abyssinia. While patrolling over the sea two British fighters located au Italian submarine and signalled their base. A Blenheim toomber was sent out and immediately attacked the submarine, which crash-dived frantically and is believed to have been destroyed. A Royal Air Force communique, describing the attack on the submarine, states that the lighters shadowed it, taking good care not to let the enemy become aware of their presence, says a British official wireless message. In addition to the attack by the Blenheim bomber one of the fighters machinegunned the submarine's conning tower. British naval craft subsequently appeared on the scene. Their reports indicate that the air attack was successful. A military communique states that a party of British armoured units encountered hostile motor transport columns, the strength of which was estimated at four guns and 300 infantry, with an escort of light tanks, resulting in an action which went entirely in favour of the British. The superior armament of the British force so completely demoralised the enemy that some of the crews even left their tanks, with disastrous results to themselves. The enemy casualties are believed to be 20 killed and 30 wounded. Some were taken prisoner. There were no British casualties. An official message says that 250 Italians were taken prisoner with oil equipment, including light tanks, lorries and four field guns'. Italy Claims Successes. A Rome war communique says: "Our aeroplanes during maritime reconnaissance sank an enemy The situation in North Africa is unchanged. In East Africa an English column, supported by armoured units, sought to infiltrate our lines by hoisting an Italian flag. It was successfully dispersed. '"Our aviation attacked ene.iny air bases in East Africa, burning three 'planes. Enemy 'planes in this sector bombed a farming village, killing three women and some Tha- enemy ! during the .night ipade aerial excursions, dropping several bombs on centres in Liguria and Piedmont." Egyptian Minister Leaves Some. The Egyptian Minister to Rome, Mostafa Elsadek Bey, has departed for Switzerland, states a Rome message. It is understood he is returning to Cairo by an overland route. A member of the British Embassy at .Cairo stated that Great Britain had, not asked Egypt to declare war on Italy, but merely to carry out the spirit and letter of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty and , |to discourage every activity likely to hamper British military operations. The Egyptian Government is sending a Note to Italy in connection with frontier air raids in which" Egyptians were killed. During the last six days 50 trains i have evacuated 50,000 from Alexandria. In addition, large numbers have left i by steamer and by road. : ITALY'S RIGHTS. —— 1 ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN. British Official Wireless. ' ! (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 19. 1 Answering a question in the House of 1 Commons regarding the British Govern- ! ment's attitude to Italian rights in ' Ethiopia and the sovereignty of Albania, ! Mr. R. A. Butler, Foreign Under-Secre- ' tary, said that in view of Italy's unpro- ' voked entry into the war, the Govern- 1 ment felt entitled to reserve full libertv 1 of action respecting undertakings given 1 the Italian Government concerning the ' Mediterranean, North or East Africa ' and the Middle Eastern area ]