HEAVY FIGHTING AT GALLABAT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23177, 14 November 1940, Page 7

HEAVY FIGHTING AT GALLABAT

BRITISH EFFORTS AT RECAPTURE AIR FORCE ACTIVITY IN ALBANIA (Received November 13, 7 p.m.) LONDON, November 12. It is authoritatively stated In London that the situation regarding Gallabat is confused, but it appears that the British troops were compelled to leave the fort after an extremely heavy air bombardment. The Italians entered a day later, but the British were reported east of Gallabat on Monday, suggesting that they have re-entered the fort. A communique issued in Cairo states: "There is no change In Egypt, Kenya, or Palestine. In the Sudan yesterday, our troops, operating from Gallabat, inflicted heavy casualties-oh the enemy at little loss to ourselves. Throughout'the day our artillery successfully engaged trirgets in the enemy camp at Metemma, causing a. number of fires, the targets hit including petrol and ration stores. Operations were continued in the Kasaaia sector." A Royal Air force communique from Cairo says that British bombers carried out night raids on Bengazi and Tobruk, and also on Berka, where they destroyed two bombers on the ground. ThPy severely damaged other aeroplanes and aircraft buildings. A large Are was started at Tobruk , Other bombers attacked Mai Adaga Gumula, Keren, and Massawa, all of which are in Italian East Africa, and the Dorol'island* in thes Red! Sea. Violent explosions occurred at MaiAtiaga and two fires were started in the! military camp at Kereh. The destroyer base at Massawa was attacked. A Rhddeslah , squadron bombed ttiOtof transport oh the Metemma-Gon-dar road. . ~ t An Egyptian cOthmunlgue says that •nemy aircraft yesterday dropped bombs on the Suez Canal zone. More later f#ll-near Cairo. Slight damage was done, but there were no casualAn Italian communique states: "Enemy aeroplanes last night bombed the naval base at Taranto and extensively damaged one ship. The enemy bombed Derna, two persons being killed . and 10 injured. They also raided Bengali, whefft thfee were

killed and 10 injured. Enemy attacks against Gallabat. were repulsed. Our a lanes bombed various places in Africa.”