LARGE ENEMY UNIT ROOTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 154, 1 July 1940, Page 7

LARGE ENEMY UNIT ROOTED.

ERITREAN FRONT.

Two Groups Of Cavalry Flee Before Armoured Cars.

PALESTINE MEN FOR R.A.F.

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

LONDON, June 30.

It is announced from Khartoum that two British light armoured fighting vehicles routed two groups of enemy cavalry, totalling 1200 men, in actions on the Sudan-Eritrean border.

It was a most important encounter and occurred in difficult country, fringing the Kassala area of Sudan, where British mechanised units are continually harassing the enemy.

Here a British unit advancing toward the cavalry opened machine-gun fire. Tho cavalry broke in panic, scattering in all directions and taking cover in nearby hills. They left 50 casualties on the ground. Enemy Destroyer Sunk. A naval communique states that British naval forces in the Central Mediterranean sank one of three enemy de&troyers which were encountered. The enemy ships retired at high speed, two of them escaping under cover of darkness.

It is believed that there were no British casualties.

The encounter occurred on Friday, according to the British official wireless, the enemy ships having been detected by Royal Air Force reconnaissance machines. British light forces were then sent in pursuit.

An Admiralty communique says the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies reports the destruction of two more Italian submarines, making a total of nine since Italy entered the war.

A message from Jerusalem states that the R.A.F. has called for volunteers between 18 and 45 years. The announcement says the volunteers will be stationed most probably in the Middle East, filling mainly technical ground positions. Italian Claims.

A Rome communique states: "There was considerable activity by our columns on the Cyrenaica front. Some localities were occupied, repulsing attacks of enemy motorised unit*.

"In an air battle four enemy 'planes were shot down. Some members of the crews were mede prisoners. Two of our 'planes failed to return to their bases.

"During an air raid on Tobruk airfield, which caueed only insignificant damage, our pursuit 'planes shot down two enemy 'planes. Another air raid on Massawa airport caused no damage. One enemy 'plane was shot down."