WAR IN NEAR EAST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 233, 1 October 1940, Page 8

WAR IN NEAR EAST

ITALIAN SHIP SUNK. South African Planer Harass, Positions. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Reod. 2 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 30. A Rome communique states that an Italian merchantman was sunk by s submarine which, it is claimed, was subsequently sunk by a torpedo boat. British planes raided areas in Somaliland and Eritrea. An official Nairobi report says th® South African Air Force again raided Birikau, Italian Somaliland. Bombs hit administrative, buildings, some of which were gutted. >

Revisiting the position ' occupied by th® British forward* brigade in Egypt, a position which was closed for some months, a correspondent of the "Telegraph" found improvements and extensions to the defence®, which, he states, seem to make them completely impregnable. The correspondent noticed unmistakable evidence of the strengthening of the whole of the Egyptian defences during his 200-mile journey across . the desert. ' , .... Demands On Syria. Further Italian demands on the Vichy Government regarding Syria (formerly a French mandated territory) are reported to have included: — k (1) The use of the port of Tripoli (Syria) as a naval base.\ ? (2) The grounding of all French aircraft now in Syria at Rhodes, in the Dodecanese Islands. (3) The nee of Aleppo and Riyak as air bases. (4) The complete demobilisation of French forces, except the police. The Vichy Government is reported ti have refuSed 'to hand over the aircraft, but ita attitude' toward the other demand*. i* hot - known.