HUNDRED 'PLANES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 10

HUNDRED 'PLANES.

Italians' Loss In Three Weeks. BRITAIN'S AIR SUPERIORITY. British Official Wireless. (Received D.30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 5. In three weeks' warfare the Roval Air Force has scored what may fairly bo termed a considerable success against tho Italian air force and at a relatively slight, cost. J Between June 10 and July 4, 70 Italian aircraft have been brought down and their total loss confirmed, whilq a further 15 cases are awaiting that supporting evidence without which the definite destruction of enemy aircraft is not claimed. A further lti Italian machines are known to have been so eeriouslv damaged as Ito make it unlikely that they reached home. The Britisli losses for. this period are 12 machines lost and one damaged. . Informed London circles state there is reason to believe that Germany counts on Italian co-opeVation in attaoking Britain in an endeavour to overcome the qualitative superiority of the Royal Air "Force by overwhelming numbers. Experiences of air warfare in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, however, indicate that "the value of Italian aid will be limited.

DESERT FIGHTING.

Heavy Attacks On British

Outposts.

ITALIAN LOSSES HEAVY.

British Official Wireless.

(Received noon.) RUGBY, July 5,

A communique issued at Cairo states that on the western desert patrol action around Capuzzo and the west of Sollirnois continues. On the Abyssinian front early yesterday an enemy fqree, consisting of light tanks, armoured cars and motoriscd infantry, supported by heavy bombing from aircraft, attacked our outpost at Kassala, which was occupied after the withdrawal of our small garrison. "AboOt the samo time a second outpost at Gallabat was also strongly attacked with support from the air," the communique continued. "Our troops withdrew to prepared positions after I inflicting heavy losses, which included I two aircraft. | "Our force heavily bombed Jletemma, gaining direct hits on barracks and "landing grounds." < A Rome cable message says it is 1 officially stated that Italian forces occupied Kassala, in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Kassala is described as an important railway junction.