BRITISH FACED GREAT ODDS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 281, 22 August 1940, Page 9

BRITISH FACED GREAT ODDS

Somaliland Campaign FOUR BATTALIONS TO TWO DIVISIONS

Evacuated Troops At Aden

(By Telegraph—-Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received August 21. 8.30 p.m.) CAIRO, August 21.

It is revealed that four British battalions opposed nearly two Italian divisions in the Somaliland campaign. . ; A communique states: “In the Western Desert there is no change. The whole British force evacuated from Berbera has now reached Aden with the bulk of its equipment and material. A small portion which was left behind was destroyed before departure. I here is nothing to report on the other fronts.” LONDON, August 20. An Italian communique states: “Italian forces occupied Berbera (capital of British Somaliland), a section of which was fired by the British troops before embarking. An entiie well-armed company of the Somaliland Camel Corps surrendered. An Italian battalion made a surprise attack on Galabat, capturing ammunition and taking prisoners. The enemy bombed Geledi, Mogadishu, and Berbera, but there were no casualties and slight material damage. The enemy bombed a hospital at Dern, one person being killed and 22 injured.” Mussolini has telegraphed a eulogy to his “victorious troops.” Telegraphing to the Duke of Aosta, Viceroy of Abyssinia, Mussolini said: “All our soldiers have given superb proof of their valour and endurance. The next step In the advance will be made after a brief pause.” A Royal Air Force communique issued in Cairo slated: “Our bombers on August 18 made a night raid on Derna. Bombs were dropped near a jetty and shipping in the harbour, and also on a camp and a. petrol dump at Direlgob, where an aerodrome was also attacked. “Three enemy planes yesterday approached within 35 miles of Malta, but made off when our fighters went up. Another force which appeared later also fled. When our bombers attacked a petrol dump at Batle all the bombs were dropped in the target area.” The Italian news agency claims Italian bomber formations raided Malta this morning. ITALIAN WARNING Blockade Of British Territory (Received August 21, 7.5 p.m. > LONDON, August 21. Italy announced an intensification of the blockade of British territory and warned all neutral Governments _to keep their ships away from the Italian war zone, comprising an extensive area round the shores of British possessions and protectorates in the Mediterranean, Red. Sea, Gulf of Aden, the British colonial coasts in Africa and also the coast of Egypt. SUBMARINE BELIEVED SUNK LONDON, August 20. An Italian communique states: “An unidentified submarine is believed to have sunk after colliding with one of our mine barges in the Dodecanese Islands.” ACTIVE AS EVER British Mercantile Ports LONDON. August 20. The Foreign .Secretory, Lord Halifax, in the House of Lords, said that the same amount of shipping was arriving in and leaving Britain with cargoes' as before the recent -intensification, of the German attacks. During the week ended. August 11, when the Germans were exerting the full force of their air (attacks, British losses of ships were less than the average weekly losses for the period before France’s defection. Britain’s strength in protecting aircraft was growing daily and scientists and factories were developing and producing new weapons to meet new menaces. FIGURES FOR WEEK Relatively Small Loss Of Shipping LONDON. August 29. The Admiralty reports that nine British ships totalling 32,257 tons were lost during the week ended August 11, compared with 60,058 tons in the previous week. Allied and neutral losses were 942 tons and 6708 tons respectively. SCHOOLGIRL’S PLUCK Victim Of Torpedoing In Atlantic (Received August 21, 7 p.m.) LONDON. August 2.1. It is feared that eight lives were lost: when tiie Swedish ship lledrun (2325 ’torus) was torpedoed without warning in the Atlantic. A British warship landed three survivors. Seven of the crew were killed by an explosion when a 5000-ton ex-Ger-inan freighter, which was seized on the outbreak of tire war, was torpedoed without warning in the Atlantic. Thirty-one of the crew are missing and 21 survivors landed in Ireland after many hours in an open boat. 'l’lie survivors included a 12-year-old Liverpool schoolgirl, Meryl Iloed, who was going to America. She gave up her coat to her young brother, and placed another round orphan children. The crew are recommending her for a Girl Guide Medal. GERMAN WASTAGE OF PILOTS (Received August 21, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 21. Mr. O. E. Simmonds, in the House of Commons, said the crux of the air war was not machines 'but crews. The German wastage of pilots on August 11 was 2.8 times the British wastage. On August 12 it was 5.2 times, on August. 15 it was 10.6 times, and by August 18 it was 14.4 times.