ITALIAN COLUMN ROUTED

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23052, 21 June 1940, Page 9

ITALIAN COLUMN ROUTED

Desert Encounter With British 250 PRISONERS AND ARMS TAKEN (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received June 20. 9 p.m.) CAIRO, June 19. A military communique states that a party of British armoured 1 cars in the eastern Egyptian desert encountered a hostile motor transport column, the strength of which was estimated at four guns and ■ 300 infantry, with an escort of light tanks. It is officially stated that 250 Italians were taken prisoner, with all their equipment, including light tanks, lorries, and four field-guns, during the encounter. . . ~ “The resulting action went entirely in our favour,” states the communique. “The superior armament of the British so completely demoralised the enemy that some crews even left their tanks, with disastrous results, to themselves. The enemy casualties are believed to to“ 20 killed and 30 wounded. Some were taken prisoner. There were no British casualties.” The clash was the first real one between the Italian and British forces in the sector. A British armed force, accompanied by armoured vehicles and

a number of light tanks, attacked the enemy’s flank. The engagement lasted only a few minutes and the Italian column was captured. A further British war communique states: “Our aeroplanes, while on maritime reconnaissance, sank an enemy submarine.” _ , ’ The Royal Air Force also attacked Tessenie, Italian East Africa, hitting and, it is believed, destroying a hangar. Machines twice raided and bombed Raheita. . ~ ■ The Southern Rhodesian Air Force also bombed military posts in Southern Abyssinia, .. Rome reports that the situation In North Africa is unchanged. “In East Africa, an English column, supported by armoured units, sought to infiltrate our lines by hoisting the Italian flag, but it was efficaciously dispersed, 1 states a communique. “Our aviation attacked enemy air bases in East Africa,, burning three aeroplanes. Enemy aeroplanes in this sector bombed a farming village, killing three women and some children. “The enemy, during the night, made aerial excursions, dropping several bombs on centres in Liguria and Piedmont,” concludes the Italian statement. “Whatever happens the British Empire will continue the struggle until victory has been wen,” declared Major-General Sir Archibald Wavell, British Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East, inaugurating a special series of broadcasts to the troops. “A savage tiger is loose in Europe and the jackal is nosing at his heels for scraps from the kill. We must conquer or die,” he said. "We shall conquer.” REVOLT IN, CORSICAREPORTED (Received June 21, 12.13 am.) ROME, June 20. The Official Italian News Agency reports that an insurrection has broken out in Corsica. Details are not available. BRITISH ATTACK ON SUBMARINE (BRITISH OFfICUI WIRELESS.) RUGBY, June 19. A communique issued by the Royal Air Force in Cairo states that while patrolling over the sea two British fighters located an Italian submarine. They signalled the base and a Blenheim bomber was sent out immediately. It attacked the submarine, which crash-dived frantically and is believed to have been destroyed. The French Ministry of National Defence in a communique states: “Maritime communications in the western Mediterranean are assured. Several Italian submarines were sunk last week, particularly by the minesweeper La Cxmeuse, which shelled and later boarded a submarine. Naval and aerial actions occurred against military and industrial objectives.” DEATH OF “COBBER” KAIN CRASH WHEN STUNTING LONDON, June 20. “It was a tragedy that such a fine airman should be killed stunting,” said a colleague who witnessed “Cobber” Kain’s crash, which occurred while an aeroplane was .waiting at the airfield to take him back to England. “He came into the mess at breakfast time and said ne wanted to do a few stunts before returning. He went to his fighter and we watched spellbound as he did double loops. He then tried a loop when the machine seemed only 100 feet from the ground. He nearly did it, but one wing touched the ground as he was turning, and in a second the machine crashed.”