HEAVY ATTACKS BY R.A.F.

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23352, 11 June 1941, Page 7

HEAVY ATTACKS BY R.A.F.

TARGETS AT ENEMY AIRFIELDS DESTRUCTION OF 14 AEROPLANES (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 9. The destruction of at least 14 enemy aircraft on North African airfields is recorded in a Royal Air Force communique, which states: “Last Sunday night heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force made prolonged raids on Benghazi and .Derna. These were followed at dawn by machine-gun attacks on dispersed aircraft at Derna, El Gazala, and camp and motor transport concentrations near Martuba. “Considerable damage was caused to the airfields, six enemy aircraft being burnt out at El Gazala, and a further eight destroyed at Derna. Many other enemy aircraft were badly damaged. “Fires and explosions were caused at Benghazi. At Derna several hits with high-explosives started large fires, which were followed by explosions. Two of our aircraft have so far failed to return. “Our fighters maintained active patrols yesterday over Cyrenaica. but no contact was made with the enemy. “In Syria, the Royal Air Force gave continuous support to our troops. “On other fronts there is little of outstanding importance to report. Malta was raided on the night of June 7-8, but there was no damage or

casualties. A CR2O Fiat bomber was shot down in flames, two of the,crew being captured after a parachute descent. A second unidentified enemy aeroplane was so badly damaged that the crew bailed out. None of our aircraft is missing.” A communique from Nairobi dealing with the fighting in Abyssinia states: “East and West African troops continue their advance in the Omo river area. An additional 209 Europeans and 1000 Eritreans, and 20 lorries were captured.” CASUALTIES IN ALEXANDRIA 557 Killed In Two Air Raids MANY CITIZENS LEAVE TOWN (Received June 10, 11 p.m.) LONDON, June 10. It is officially announced in Cairo that 410 people were killed and 31 injured in the air raid on Alexandria on Saturday night. In the raid on Wednesday night, 147 people were killed and 92 injured. The evacuation of Alexandria has been put into operation by the Egyptian Government. Free transport will be provided where required. The greatest damage was done to the older part of the city. Though many of their houses were destroyed, the people remain calm. ... The continued exodus of the Arab population provides an amazing sight. About 40,000 have left the city by train and at least two or three times that number is expected to leave in the next two days. Soldiers are picketing the entrances to the main station. Trains leave continuously. Women and babies even ride on carriage roofs. BRITISH FORCES IN EGYPT NEW COMMANDER APPOINTED (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 9. The War Office announces that Lieutenant-General Sir James Mar-shall-Cornwall, whose appointment as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief appeared in the London Gazette on June 3, has assumed the appointment of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the British troops in Egypt, which is a component part of General Sir Archibald Wavell’s. command in the Middle East. . General Marshall-Cornwall, who is 54, was chief of the British military mission to the Egyptian Army in 1937, and since the beginning of- hostilities he has spent much time at British General Headquarters in Cairo. In the recent staff talks with Turkey he represented the Middle East Command. From 1928 to 1932 he was British Militry Attache at Berlin. When the present war broke out he was DirectorGeneral of Air and Coast Defence at the War Office, It was reported, on June 3 that General Marshall-Cornwall had been appointed a "mystery commander-in-chief.” The “Daily Mail” expressed the opinion that the secrecy surrounding the new appointment was probably because General Marshall-Cornwall was formerly military attache in . Berlin, and the Germans consequently knew his methods and his mentality. NEW LAWS IN HUNGARY (Received June 11, 2 a.m.) BUDAPEST, June 10. New laws “made necessary by collaboration with Germany” are to be introduced in Hungary immediately. They include the Nuremburg racial laws under which marriages between Jews and Christians are forbidden. Bronze, nickel, and silver coins are to be withdrawn, ’in favour of Aluminium and steel coins.