ITALIAN TROOPS BOMBED

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 9

ITALIAN TROOPS BOMBED

Attacks by R.A.F. Near Kassala

TEN SEPARATE

RAIDS

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(Received August 1, U p.m.) I

LONDON, August 1.

Italian troop concentrations on th* Sudan-Eritrean frontier have been bombed for two days by machines of the Royal Air Force, according to a communique from Cairo. The raids began on Tuesday morning near Kassala, and were continued until dark. Yesterday two more attacks were made. Severe damage wai done to troop concentrations and machine-gun posts. In all the Royal Air Force made 10 separate raids, and all the machines returned.

In attacks on the aerodrome. at Macaca, the Royal Air Force gained two direct hits, after which clouds of black smoke rose.

An Admiralty communique states: "Two Gladiator aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm intercepted three Italian Savoia 79 aircraft in the Mediterranean on Monday.’ One Italian machine was shot down in ilames, and a second was seen to be badly hit, and was considered unlikely to have regained its base. One of our machines made 4 forced landing in the sea, but the pilot was picked up unhurt." , In a raid on Massawa, Royal Air Force aeroplanes scored direct hits on the Italian headquarters and fuel depots. All the British aircraft returned safely. On Monday the Royal Aif Force bombed Assab and Macaca. One British machine was, lost. . An Italian communique states: OUf aviation in East Africa again bombed the port of Aden, hitting directly two ships and a large oil depot. All OUT aeroplanes returned. . A message from Nairobi states tnai Strong Italian forces were encountered south of Moyaie. After suffering losses, the Italians broke off the iaction. Additional troops have been 4ent to Portuguese East Africa to strengthen Madrid message states Gibraltar was heavily bombed efirly m the evening. Explosions were heard f& lt is Reported from Royal Air Force fighters shot down a off Valetta when enemy approached Malta in the morning. One British fighter was . pilot escaped, by parachute. No bo mo were dropped. „