AERIAL WAR ON ITALIANS

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1940, Page 8

AERIAL WAR ON ITALIANS

BRINDISI HEAVLY BOMBED AFRICAN CENTRES RAIDED [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, November 30. •The Air Ministry’s news_ service gives an account of air operations in the Middle East during Thursday night and the early hours of Friday morning, when attacks were made on Brindisi, one of the ports used by the Italians in sending troops and war materials to Albania. More x than 26,0001 b of high-explo-sive and incendiary bombs were dropped on military objectives. A stick of bombs burst in a line from the quays to fuel tanks in the south-east of the town, causing one fierce fire and several smaller fires, as well as a number of explosions. Other bombs fell near fuel tanks and an arsenal on the south-east of the harbour. One stick of bombs straddled the main railway station in the south-west of the town, two more fires being started at the southern end of the quays. In spite of considerable anti-aircraft fire, the attack was pressed home without loss or damage to the British aircraft.

In the Western Desert raids were carried out at Sidi Barrani and Bomba. Direct hits were registered on military buildings at Sidi Barrani and at'Bomba bombs fell in the camp. In Italian East Africa, dive-bomb-ing and machine-gun attacks were made on Tessenie aerodrome. Enemy aircraft on the ground were damaged by machine-gun fire and bombs fell well inside the target area. Keren also raided and individual attacks were made on railway stations.

On Thursday, aircraft of the South African Air Force carried out an offensive patrol over Gardulla. Accurate bombing caused extensive damage to administrative building?, several fires being started. In other parts of the front, normal reconnaissances were carried out by the Royal Air Force. From all'the operations under review, all the British aircraft returned safely to their bases. Speaking of earlier action, the News Service says* that on November 22, while aircraft of the South African Air Force were engaged in an of-fensive-reconnaissance over Kismayu, they encountered Italian aircraft, and during the ensuing combat one enemy fighter was damaged and compelled to break off the fight, being apparently in difficulties. One South African aircraft was forced to land in enemy territory, the crew being taken prisoners.

ITALIANS AMBUSHED. RUGBY, November 30. A Cairo communique says that in the Kassala sector, in the Sudan, a British mechanised patrol successfully ambushed a body of the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties both on the original party and upon reinforcements which hurried into the thick of the action. An enemy reconnaissance force in the Mersa Matruh area met with a heavy concentration of fire from British artillery. There is nothing of importance to report on the other fronts. The Secretary of State for War (Mr Eden) has sent a message to General Sir Robert Cassels, Commander-in-Chief, India, asking that the gratulations of the War Cabinet be conveyed to all units of the Indian Army, which took part in the recapture of Gallabat, in the Sudan.

NO CHANGE ' RUGBY, December 1. A communique issued at general headquarters Cairo, to-day, states: On all fronts, there is no change in the situation.