SUCCESSFUL R.A.F. AND FRENCH RAIDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 7

SUCCESSFUL R.A.F. AND FRENCH RAIDS.

IN NORTH AFRICA. Several Italian 'Planes Brought Down. ABYSSINIAN REVOLT BEGINS. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 20. A Cairo communique says: "R.A.F. bombers and fighters off the Egyptian coast destroyed three Italian 'planes and probably two others. One of our fighters is missing. "The South African Air Force bombed and machine-gunned nine enemy 'planes dispersed around Lavella aerodrome, in Italian East Africa, destroying two and damaging three, and also shot down two others. "Six enemy 'planes were set on fire in Eritrea, making 15 Italian aircraft lost in the past 24 hours." 1 » ■% The Havas news agency from Algiers reports that French troops in North Africa contacted enemy troops on the Tunis-Libyan border. The French Air Force in Africa is very active, successfully bombing Tripoli, in Libya, and Cagliari, in Sardinia, Italian raids on French territory met with little success. Italian Claims. The ninth Italian war communique states: "An Italian submarine torpedoed and sank a 2500-ton French destroyer. "Corsica was continuously air-bombed yesterday. Italian aviators were very active in Africa."' The Italian official news agency, under a (iencva date line, report* tli.it an insurrection has broken out in Lor.-ica. It adds that details are not available. The Kyptian Prime Minister. All Maher Pasha, replying to a quest ion in the Chamber of Deputies, revealed that Egyptian troops had be<JH withdrawn from the Libyan frontier in order to prevent a serious incident before Parliament "had time to act in the best "interests of the country."

The Prime Minister denied that Egyptian forces had not defended themselves when attacked. He reaffirmed that Egypt was following a policy of complete support for Britain. "Whatever happens, the British Empire will continue the struggle until victory is won," declared General Sir Archibald Wavell. British commander-in-chief in the Sfiddle East, inaugurating a special series of broadcasts to the troops. "A savage tiger is loose in Europe, and a jackal is nosing at his heels for scraps from the kill. We must conquer or die —but we shall conquer."