ATTACKS AT DAWN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 3, 4 January 1941, Page 7

ATTACKS AT DAWN

Heavy Damage To Ships And Buildings In Tripoli Raid

(British Official Wireless.—Reed. noon.) RUGBY, January 3. Caiio headquarters communique stated that just after dawn (his morning Australian forces, supported by tanks, penetrated a sector of the defences of Bardia. Operations are continuing. There is nothing to report on other fronts. It is stated in authoritative circles that the Australian action may be only a raid on an outlying sector. Whether it will develop into a major attack on Bardia is not known. It looks as if it is a major attacK, but nothing more is known in London than the communique says. It depends, obviously, on how the beginning goes and how the operations develop. Penetration of the defences of Bardia at dawn by Australian foices was preceded by a series of R.A.F. raids at the same time as heavy attacks were made on Tripoli, according to an R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states:— During the night of January 1 and 2 R.A.F. aircraft carried out two heavy raids on shipping in Tripoli Harbour. During the first attack bombs straddled the south-east mole, where five cruisers were moored. Several fires were started near seaplane hangars. Other bombs hit the Customs jetty and one ship. A number of explosions and fresh fires occurred and seaplane hangars started burning during the second raid. Direct hits were registered on the Customs jetty, causing five fires and three explosions, probably in one of the ships moored alongside the jetty. Two large motor vessels were hit and clouds of heavy smoke resulted. The fires were visible over 60 miles away.

"In the Western Desert Bardia was again subjected to a series of raids. During the night of January 1 and 2, as the result of a bombardment, large fires were started among stores and buildings. Two further raids were carried out yesterday, mainly on motor transport concentration encampments west of the town. Considerable damage was caused, the extent of which was confirmed by photographs. "In Italian East Africa numerous reconnaissance flights were carried out, but there is of outstanding importance to report. From all these operations on all fronts our aircraft returned safely."