PUNISHING ATTACKS

Evening Star, Issue 23863, 18 April 1941, Page 5

PUNISHING ATTACKS

R.A.F. IN MIDDLE EAST CONTINUOUS OFFENSIVE IN GREECE AND AFRICA MUCH DAMAGE TO ENEMY SUPPLY COLUMNS (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph —Copyright RUGBY, April 17. (Received April,lß, at 11.45 a.m.) Punishing attacks by British aircraft ou the enemy forces in Libya are recorded in an R.A.F. Middle East communique. “ Bomber and fighter aircraft of the R.A.F. maintained punishing attacks throughout yesterday and the previous night on enemy mechanised units, troops, and landing grounds in Cyrenaica. Near Fort Capuzzo a motorised column was attacked and a number of vehicles destroyed. Casualties were caused among troops. During the night of April 15-16 our bombers attacked the landing grounds at Gazala, El Adem, and Derna, where one aircraft was destroyed by direct hits. Convoys iu the same area were bombed and subsequently machine-gunned from a low altitude. Many vehicles were damaged. Our fighters maintained continuous offensive patrols. “ In Greece R.A.F. bombers carried out unceasing attacks on enemy supply columns, particularly in the Kozanir bitolj-Ptolemais area. Much damage was caused. The railway line near Koritios, motor transport on the road near Kitros, and a railway station southeast of Katarini were also successfully bombed. Fires were started at Seres aerodrome, and a convoy east of Salonika was heavily raided. “ A large formation of enemy aircraft which attacked shipping in Khalkis Harbour yesterday was engaged by our fighters, which shot down a Ju 88. Another was destroyed by anti-aircraft firo. Enemy aircraft raided the aerodrome r.t Heraklion on April 15, but negligible damage resulted. One enemy aircraft was shot down and the pilot captured. ‘‘ In Abyssinia yesterday our bombers raided Dessie aerodrome, and on the previous i day aircraft of the South African Air Force bombed and machine-gunned enemy troops and encampments at Wadara and in the Alge area.

“ From all these operations four of our aircraft are missing.” An Air Ministry and Home Security communique states: “ It is now known that an enemy fighter was destroyed oyer the French coast yesterday, and that four more enemy bombers were shot down last night in the raid on London, making' six in all, three by lighters and three by anti-aircraft fire. Two enemy aircraft were shot down in the Straits of Dover this morning by fighters. A single enemy aircraft bombed a town in north-east Scotland to-dav. The damage was small. The casualties included several persons killed. Elsewhere no enemy action is reported.” ■ HEAVY RAID ON TRIPOLI (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 17. (Received April 18, at 1.20 p.m.) A special R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “On the night of April 16-17 a heavy raid was carried out on shipping and harbour installations at Tripoli by the R.A.F. and the Fleet Air Arm. One medium-sized tanker was- hit. A heavy explosion followed and the vessel burned fiercely for over an hour. There were many near misses to other shipping. Vessels anchored outside the harbour were also attacked. Several direct hits were registered on Spanish Mole. One large white flash was seen and a big fire was started on the town end. Searchlight positions were also machine-gunned., All our planes returned safely.”

CONFERENCE AT GIBRALTAR BRITISH SERVICE CHIEFS LA LINEA, April IG. Sir Samuel Hoare, who was to leave Gibraltar to-day, . suddenly called off his departure in order to attend an important conference to-morrow, the object of which, it is reported, is to examine the Mediterranean and North African situation. Admirals, army, and air chiefs will attend.