Artillery Fire On Egypt Front

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 9

Artillery Fire On Egypt Front

INCREASE REPORTED

Italians Thicken Defences Against British Attacks

(United Pnes? As ociation.—Copyright.—lnc. I p.m.)

LONDON. September i 3.

The Cairo correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says intermittent exchanges of artillery fire between the British and Italian outposts are reported to be increasing. General Graziani, leader of the Italians in Africa, is reported to be rushing fresh troops to Bardia to compensate for the recent heavy British attacks there.

Bardia was recently heavily bombarded from the sea by British naval units.

A British official wireless message states that a communique usued at the British General Headquarters in Cairo says: "In Egypt a thickening up of the enemy's defences west of the frontier is continuing.

Beyond the usual raid on Mersa Matruh. air activity- is slight. It is now confirmed that one enemy aircraft was brought down by anti-aircraft fire on the night of September 10-11. On other fronts there are no operations to report.**

An unofficial communique issued in Nairobi (Kenya) states that patrols are active on all parts of the front. One encountered superior enemy forces at Wal Garis. on the frontier of Italian Somaliland, and inflicted casualties. British were of die slightest

No news is available from British sources regarding Italian claims that the invasion of Egypt has begun. The Cairo correspondent of 'The Tunes** says that the Royal j r rCC *, S° ut k African Air Force, the Rhodesian Squadron and French units have carried out more than 250 successful bombing raids during the last three months. Over this period fighters and reconnaissance machines of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East have flown more than 2,500,000 miles. Italian Communique n *"— A Rome communique states that an Italian submarine leached its base after sinking a 10.000-ton tanlcer and an 8000-ton canto vessel in the Atlantic. Italian aircraft continued night and day raids enemy troop concentrations, motorised unite and other military objectives on the Egyptian coast, set fire to an oil depot and damaged several enemy lorries, armoured cars, tanks and other formations. Successful attacks were made on an encampment and barracks at Abidia. also on a column and 20 lorries near Elchaturo. in Kenya.

British aircraft raided Massawa, in Eritrea, four *i«nrt yesterday. damaging a building, and also bombed Asaab, destroying a hospital and some buildings in the centre of the town, six deaths and some wounded among the Italian native population. Uther British air raids were made on Asmara and Gum, slight damage. The aerodromes of Djimma and were bombed, inflicting slight damage. Nine casualties resulted. Italian fighters shot down one enemy 'plane.