ENEMY CRIPPLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 69, 22 March 1941, Page 10

ENEMY CRIPPLED.

AIR AND SEA BLOWS. Somali Coast Bombarded Before Invasion. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 2 p.m.) RUGBY, Mar. 21. Now that Mogadishio, Kismayu and other ports of the Italian Somaliland coast are in British hands, it is possible to. reveal that on many occasions the South African Air Force cooperated with the navy in a ceaseless watch over enemy shipping, and in naval bombardments of the Somaliland coast. One of the heaviest of these bombardments, states the Air Ministry news service, wiw at Mo<lua, a small town about four miles inland from Port Brava. As Boon a« the target was registered by aircraft, a bombardment from the sea began. The aircraft corrected the first two salvoes from the sea. When the Italians discovered that a South African aircraft was directing the bombardment two CR 42's started to attack it. The rear gunner of the South Africap aircraft repeatedly hit one of them, which dived away and landed. The second fighter was completely beaten for speed by the South Africans, who at once resumed their co-operation with the navy, indicating Italian aerodromes as a target. On another occasion reconnaissance aircraft of tile S.A.A.F. spotted for the navy, which was engaged in a bombardment of enemy troop encampments near Brava, at the main road junction leading to Mogadishio. The spotting Was extremely accurate and most of the salvoes fell among tents. The terrified Italian troops could be seen running fm»m the tents and taking cover in bush. For the past month airmen have been engaged in a constant watch on enemy shipping, which they have often attacked, and especially on all movements at Kismayu and Mogadishio harbours. The defences and the harbours havo also been constantly reconnoitred and photographed.