ÀIR ACTIVITY IN NEAR EAST SECTORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 176, 26 July 1940, Page 7

ÀIR ACTIVITY IN NEAR EAST SECTORS.

BRITISH ATTACKS.

Blows Struck In Widely Separated Fronts.

ITALIANS HARASSED;

l"nit«I Tress Association.—Copyright.

(Received 1 p.m.) , LONDON", July 25. It is officially stated from Cairo that a patrol of five Gladiators, escorting Blenheim bombers, engaged and shot down five of seven enemy fighters into the sea oft Libya. The Blenheims raided Derna and dropped I bombs in the middle of 50 grounded enemy fighters and bombers. There were no British losses in this action. It is now revealed that a Gladiator reported missing on July 24 made a forced landing on the British side of the frontier. A Nairobi communique states: "Our 'planes yesterday reconnoitred the Elwak area, bombed a small concentration of troops, and destroyed one motor vehicle." A Cairo naval communique says: "One was killed and seven were wounded in an Italian raid on Alexandria this morning. A few bombs were dropped indiscriminately, and slight damage was caused." The R.A.F. communique states: " 'Planes yesterday successfully bombed a large ammunition dump south of Bardia. Several direct hits caused blue flashes, and part or the dump was completely blown away. Gladiators covering bombers met a large formation of fighters and definitely shot down four. Another is unlikely to reach its base. All our bombers returned. One fighter is missing. "A direct hit was srored on a hangar during a raid on Macaca. '1 wo other hangars were severely damaged. A fight between a Sunderland flying-boat and an Italian fighter ended when the Italian dived out of control." "All our machines returned safely from the raid on Macaca. Two enemy raids on Malta resulted in very 6light • damage. It is reported that an enemy 5 bomber was probably destroyed by ! anti-aircraft fire."' says a British official . wireless message. It is officially stated that ten Italian l bombers swept up from the south-east i and dropped SO or 100 bombs on the - eastern part of Haifa, thc oil port on . the coast of Palestine, killing 46

civilians and wounding 88. Moet ol the bombs fell in the sea. Heavy antiaircraft fire drove off the raiders.

An Italian communique eays: Italian planes again bombed the naval baa* at Alexandria. Fires broke out at TT.jf. Italian submarine was lost, No details are available.

Rome radio announced that consider - able damage was caused the cruieer Gloucester in an engagement near Crete on July 19. It is alleged that the casualties included the commander and nine officers.

100 KILLED.

Thousands Of Tons Of OO On

Fire At Haifa.

ITALIAN ATR mm

(Eeeelvea 3 p.m.)

RUGBY, July 26.

A Cairo communique states tW enemy aircraft raided Haifa early yesterday morning. Several thrniK»T»l tons of kerosene and lubricating oil were set on fire, but the fire was got under control and prevented from spreading by the early afternoon. Civilian casual*' ties totalled about 100. There were no military casualties.

FRENCH IN EAST.

LOYALTY TO BRITISH CAUSE* lßeceived 10.30 a.m.) CAIRO, July 35. The French National Committee at its first meeting passed a resolution pledging loyal support for the British cause. A message of encouragement was sent to General de Gaulle, leader of the French National Committee in London.

ITALY'S WHEAT CROP.

ESTIMATED DECREASE. (Rocejircd 10 a.m.) HOME, July 25. It i> officially stated that, the wheat crop is estimated at 73.000,000 quintal?, which is 7,700.000 below the average of the last three years.