BRITISH BOMBING

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 142, 12 March 1941, Page 7

BRITISH BOMBING

Tripoli Again Raided

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, March 10.

A Cairo headquarters communique states: “In Libya and Eritrea the situation remains unchanged. lu Abyssinia and Italian Somaliland our operations continue to progress successfully.” An R.A.F. (Middle East) 'communique states that in Abyssinia bombers of the R.A.F. attacked the aerodrome of Dlredawa and succeeded in carrying out the attack, though intercepted by a number of Italian fighters. They-, obtained a direct hit on a train approaching the town ancL another on the station at Addagalla. Troop positions were bombed and machine-gunned by R.A.F. bombers in the Keren area. Other bombers who were harassing an Italian column retreating .from Burye bombed'a village near Debra Markos.

In Libya, the harbour a t Tripoli was again attacked during the night of March 8-9 by R-.A.F. bombers, and bombs were dropped on enemy aerodromes in Tripolitania. All the planes returned. An air communique issued in Nairobi states: “The South African Air Force has co-operated with the navy frequently during the ceaseless watch on the. coast of Italian Somaliland, and in the bombardfnents of Moduu and a camp near Brava preceding the occupation of Mogadishu. Much de-, struction followed the work of the South African Air Force at Modun. Two OR 42’s attacked South African aircraft, but one was forced to land by the fire of the South African rear gunner after being hit repeatedly. “At Brava spotting by the South African Air Force was very accurate, and salvoes of shells from ships of the Royal Navy could be seen bursting among the tents of the Italians, who ran into the bush terrified by the sudden attack from the sea.” SPEEDING UP CAMPAIGN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 10. Indication that the Abyssinian campaign is to be expedited was given in an interview by General Smuts on his return from the Cairo conference, states a Nairobi Press message. He left for South Africa yesterday. General Smuts said that the Cairo talks, at which the world war situation was fully considered, were most timely and fruitful, ITALIAN COMMUNIQUE LONDON, March 10. An Italian communique states that troops captured prisoners and turned back an enemy force attempting to approach Jarabub. The air force bombed naval bases in Cyrenaica. The enemy raided Tripoli, killing three persons and injuring twp others and causing slight damage. Raids on Harar and Diredawa caused no damage.