RUMANIA AND GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23132, 23 September 1940, Page 7

RUMANIA AND GERMANY

ACTIVITIES SUSPECTED

BY RUSSIANS

REPORTS OF MILITARY

PREPARATIONS

(united press association—copyright.)

(Received September 22, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, September 20.

The Balkans correspondent of "The Times” says that evidence is accumulating that German military co-operation with Rumania is tantamount to German control.

The Rumanian dictator (General Antoneseu) has appealed to Germany to reorganise the army, and it is reliably reported that preparations have been made to enable German aircraft to land at Floresti airport, near the oilfields.

German Black Guards are reported to be encamped at two places in the same area and great activity has been observed.

The Russian Legation, which is alarmed at these developments, regards the new Government with deep suspicion, and the continued arrival of Russian reinforcements is reported on the Bessarabian front.

NO CHANGE IN

EGYPT

ITALIANS STILL AT

SIDI BARRANI

DAMAGE IN BRITISH

AIR RAIDS

(Received September 22, 10 p.m.)

LONDON, September 22.

A military communique issued in Cairo says; “There is no change in the situation in Egypt. Anti-aircraft guns at Mersa-Matruh brought down a raider.”

A Royal Air Force communique says: “We raided grounded aircraft at'lvienastir in the Western Desert, and caused considerable damage. An enemy aeroplane flew into a bursting bomb and is believed to have been destroyed. We damaged a concentration of motor transport at Sidl Barrani. “The enemy raided Mersa-Matruh and caused slight damage. We successfully bombed Diredawa and Berbera, and twice attacked Gura aerodrome, setting fire to workshops. We bombed a military post at Mersa-Taclai, on the coast of Eritrea, causing severe damage.” . From Alexandria it is reported that Italian aeroplanes attempted! to bomb the British Fleet early yesterday morning, unloading explosives against the port area. All the bombs fell harmlessly into the sea. The aeroplanes were forced back after an alarm of 45 minutes. „ _ The British Broadcasting Corporation’s observer (Mr Richard Dimbleby) states. that the Royal Air Force has been constantly in action against the advancing Italians, and that its work has been marked by a successful attack on Benghazi, where shipping in the harbour was raided and three large ships set on fire. For four hours, transport concentrations at Sidi Barrani were bombed and great darn-* age done. A British officer, speaking to the observer. described the Italian method of advance as a “hedgehog.” The main transport column was screened by large numbers of vehicles carrying anti-aircraft, anti-tank, and machineguns. This method is said to have the disadvantage of being slow and providing an excellent target for the British artillery fire, which is described as better and more quickly handled than the Italian.

The Italians are specialising in a form of light artillery, ranging from 65 to 75 millimetre guns, mounted on lorries from which they can be fired, if necessary. The Italians, in their operations. showed a mixture of extreme caution and resolution. Italian Journalists Captured. Three captured Italian war correspondents, with whom Mr Dimbleby talked, said that the British artillery fire had been very effective. They thought their last hour had come when they advanced down the hairpin cliff road from Solium. This road, which was damaged by the British, was quickly repaired by the Italians. The Italian correspondents were captured by British armoured cars, when they advanced too far ahead of the Italian column they were with. A Royal Air Force communique issued in Cairo on Friday states; “Last night a formation of our bombers flew through a heavy anti-aircraft barrage and successfully attacked shipping in Benghazi harbour. Three large ships were seen on fire as a result of the bombing, A concentration of enemy transport near Sidi Barrani was bombed for four hours. “In Abyssinia, Diredawa aerodrome was attacked, bombs starting a fire in a hangar. Enemy fighters took off, but failed to press home their attack. "Enemy aircraft attempted a night raid on Aden, causing slight damage to buildings in the suburbs, but no casualties. The aircraft were driven off by anti-aircraft fire. “South African aircraft carried out extensive reconnaissances in southern Abyssinia and Italian Somaliland.” Raid on Aden

A message from Aden, describing an air raid by a single Italian aircraft in the early hours of Thursday, says that four bombs were dropped. There were no casualties, and damage, which was slight, was caused only to one building. In the second raid later in the same day, all the bombs fell harmlessly into the sea. Advices from Aden also refer to reliable reports reaching there from Assab and Massawa. which show that the sympathies of the local. Arabs are with Britain. They have been greatly impressed by the accuracy of the Royal Air Force’s bombing of military targets, which has proved sparing of civilian lives nearby. From the same source it is understood that fires started at Assab by Royal Air Force raids last Sunday and Monday burned for three days. As the Royal Air Force and the artillery of British warships relentlessly pound Marshal Graziani's supply columns west -of Sidi Barrani, Egyptian party leaders continue their conference with the Government regarding a declaration of war. Ahmed Maher Pasha, the leader of the Saadist Party and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, is heading the campaign for Egypt’s entry into the war.

In a speech he said: “The enemy has invaded our country and attacked our children. We cannot be onlookers. We must disregard our own strength and

stand beside our strong ally, whose mighty fleet and mighty Air Force have astounded the world. They have proved themselves able to frustrate the enemy and also to confound him.” Four prominent Egyptian Cabinet Ministers who are in favour of war. have resigned. New Ministers have been appointed. It was stated that the Cabinet refused to be rushed Into decisions and was determined to await developments before declaring war.

Dobruja Occupation—Fifty thousand Bulgarian troops have begun the occupation of South Dobruja.—Varna, Sept, 21.