CHIEF PORT FOR LIBYA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1941, Page 6

CHIEF PORT FOR LIBYA

THE ROLE OF NAPLES

INDUSTRIALLY IMPORTANT

KUGBY, October 29

Further light is shed on the reason for the recent heavy British raids on Naples and the Libyan ports by information, given in authoritative economic quarters in London, that there has; recently been a great increase in traffic between Italy and Libya. All kinds of equipment and necessities for the troops are being shipped, including food, and fuel.

In recent years Naples has assumed importance not only as a port for military purposes and a naval base but also as a centre of the munitions. industry. .

As a port it ranks next to Genoa and is the main point of departure for. the convoys dispatched to supply the Axis forces in Libya. Compared with Genoa it is about 400 miles nearer— as the bomber flies—to the Royal Air Force bases in the Middle East.

In the % Naples [eastern suburbs, towards Vesuvius, important industrial establishments have been recently developed.

v The shipbuilding and repair yards of Naples are among Italy's biggest, and there are important naval oil tanks and supply depots.

At the Alfa-Eomeo works aero engines and partsiare produced, and another concern, in association with the better-known Breda company, turns out air-frames.—B.O.W.