ITALIAN BASES ATTACKED

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23080, 24 July 1940, Page 9

ITALIAN BASES ATTACKED

SHIPPING DAMAGED

AT TOBRUK

AUSTRALIAN DESTROYER

SINKS U-BOAT

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.)

(Received July 23, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, July 22.

The Royal Air Force, bombing El Gubbi at the week-end, started fires, one of which was visible for more than 60 miles. British also damaged shipping at Tobruk, and set fire to a jetty, hit a large crane, and attacked military objectives at Bardia.

Bombers pressed their attack against the Asmara aerodrome and secured direct hits on a group of three hangars and buildings. All returned safely. Bombers also attacked the aerodrome at Barentu, between Massawa and Kassala.

At the Barentu aerodrome an ammunition dump and naval stores were attacked, and Assab was twice raided with some success. Over a wide area aircraft of the South African Air Force and the Southern Rhodesian Squadron earned out valuable reconnaissance flights, attacking at the same time any motor transport or other military targets discovered. . _ , The enemy raided Sidi Barram, Solium, Mersa Matruh, and Fuka. There were no casualties and the damage Was slight. • . , , Another unit of the Royal Australian Navy has been successful in action against the enemy. It is learned in London that the destroyer Voyager sank an Italian submarine last month. The Voyager is a comparatively old vessel, and was transferred to the Australian Navy eight years ago. Mr Churchill has sent a message of congratulation to the Australian Government. London newspapers pay a warm tribute to the Australians.

Claims in Rome

A Rome communique states: '■‘Tnformation from positive sources indicates that the following aerial and naval activities took place between July 8 and July 13: in addition to the Ark Royal and the Hood, one more British battleship of the Warspite class, and the cruisers Gloucester and Arethusa suffered severe damage and considerable losses of crews.

“In North Africa, intense and effective bombardment of British bases at Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh were carried out. In East Africa, an air raid was carried out against bases at Buna and Wajir, in which Italian aeroplanes machine-gunned and bombed British aeroplanes and troops. One enemy aeroplane was shot down. All the Italian aeroplanes returned. Enemy raids on Asmara caused neither damage nor casualties.” After receiving complete outfits of clothing at British expense, survivors from the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni marched" from the military barracks in Alexandria to a suburban station, where they entrained for internment.

Some Italian women among the watching crowds of Egyptians and Europeans wept as the survivors marched past. The wounded were carried on board a hospital coach. The commander (Captain J. A. Collins) and officers of the Sydney and the destroyers accorded naval honours to the Italian seamen who had died of wounds. The British and French warships flew their flags at half-mast during the ceremony. Mr Churchill' has sent a cablegram to Mr Menzies offering his congratulations.

“The Times” states that the sinking of the Bartolomeo Colleoni had two noteworthy features. “One was the rescue by the British force, in spite of attempts by the Italian Air Force to interfere with it, of 545 officers and men, .which cannot have been far short of the cruiser’s entire company. The other was that the British suffered no casualties at all.” IRISH COAST MINED ACTION TAKEN BY BRITAIN LONDON, July 22. Mines have been laid from the northern coast of Devon to the southern coast of Ireland. The belt of mines, 40 miles wide, goes right to the edge of Eire’s territorial waters, and completely shuts off the Bristol Channel and the Irish Sea from the south. All ships bound for ports on the Irish Sea have to enter from the north. The Admiralty announces danger to shipping because of mines in the sea area from Hartland Point to Trevose head and thence across to the limits of Irish territorial waters. MISUSE OF LAND IN BRITAIN MEASURES TO PREVENT WASTE (Received July 23, 10 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. The “Daily Herald” says the Government has seized 450 farms and building sites in England and Wales and terminated the tenancies of another 155 farms because “the farms were neglected and mismanaged or badly farmed, and the building sites were not developed and were weed-ridden.” The farms are being let to capable men and the building sites are being used for growing food.

HITLER’S GIFT TO

MUSSOLINI

LONDON, July 22,

Herr Hitler has presented Signor Mussolini with a heavily-afrnoured train, mounting several anti-aircraft batteries, to transport him on his travels.

Signor Mussolini inspected the train this morning, and the Italian Official News Agency makes it clear that II Duce was highly delighted. The train, which is staffed by Germans, was handed over by one of Herr Hitler’s generals, who said that Herr Hitler had made the gift because Signor Mussolini’s life jvas as dear to the Italian people as it was to Germany.

Demobilisation in France.—The demobilisation of the French Army under the armistice terms has begun. Preference is being given to. men required for harvesting. The decrees drastically reduce the number of -permanent officers and reduce the retirement age, —Vichy, July 23.