MISERY AHEAD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20275, 17 June 1940, Page 7

MISERY AHEAD

ITALIANS WARNED DUCE’S COURSE AFRICAN FORTS TAKEN raids from the air ' ROME COUNTER CLAIMS NAVY IN ACTION (Kloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. June 17, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. Leaflets dropped by British -planes over Rome yesterday stated: “II Duce wanted war. Here it is. Whether you win or lose the Italians will..always suffer, because Italy will always be poor. France has nothing against you. Lay down your arms/’ Another leaflet read: “Italian women. Nobody has attacked Italy. Your sons, husbands and sweethearts have not left you to defend the country. They suffer and die to satisfy the pride of one man. Victorious or defeated, you will have hunger, misery and slavery.” A War Office communique states that on Thursday British troops, acting in close co-operation with, the Royal Air Force, attacked Fort Cappuzzo and Fort Maddalona, Italian forts near the Egypt-Libya frontier Fort Cappuzo was captured and four Italian officers and 100 soldiers taken prisoner. Fort Maddalona surrendered. Over 200 Prisoners A Middle East General Headquarter’s communique reveals that following the capture of Fort Capuzzo the British now have eight Italian officers and 200 men as prisoners. A communique issued in Alexandria slates that Italian planes attacked and slightly damaged the Wajir aerodrome. Four African soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. Italian planes attacked Egypt’s important western desert defence bastions, Solium and Sheggaweshka. Little material damage was done. Royal Air Force bombers made night attacks at Assab. One of four trimotored planes on the ground suffered a direct hit. Others are believed to have been damaged. The Royal Air Force blew up ammunition stores at Capruzzo extensively damaging the fort which subsequently was occupied by the land forces. A ' single-seater Italian plane was : hot down. A message from Nairobi states that the South African Air Force bombed Kismayu aerodrome, Italian Somaliland, setting fire to the barracks which were full of Italian soldiers. Other buildings were also hit. Antiaircraft guns were put out of 'action. All the machines returned. A communique issued, in Rome yesterday stated: “The Alpine front carried out prearranged.. ..dispositions,; occupying some localities .beyond the frontier. TVo enemy’s efforts to impede our action were repulsed. Some prisoners were taken. Destroyers Claimed “The torpedo boat Calatafini torpedoed two large enemy destroyers 'or which one has sunk. “Localities in the Riviera were hit by the enemy and some civilians were killed. “Despite unfavourable weather conditions we carried out a new and effective bombardment against military objectives. Reconnoitring was carried out over enemy bases. One enemy submarine was sunk by one of our seaplanes. “In Northern Africa-, the enemy renewed attacks with armoured units against our border posts. The attacks have been held in efficacious action. Our aviation had considerable results. There have been intense reconnoitring activities over Tunis. “In East Africa, Italian aviation, besides numerous .reconnaissance flights beyond the border, carried out successive waves of air raids on Aden on Thursday directly hitting objectives and shooting down one enemy machine. One of our planes failed to return. “In the afternoon the aerial base at Vair was bombarded, causing damage. All our planes returned. On the afternoon of Wednesday and the night of Thursday British planes bombed the village of Lobua, the air port of Asseb. Not much damage was done Raids Over Italy “Enemy aviation at night Raided several cities in central and:’ north Italy “At dawn on Thursday our navy clashed with an enemy naval formation composed of cruisers and torpedo boats in which the sea coast defences and our navy went into action.” It is officially announced in Rome that 11 persons were killed and 52 wounded in naval and air attacks on various Italian cities Six persons were killed and 22 wounded in naval and air attacks on Savona, near Genoa. An Italian communique issued in Rome to-day states: “Reconnoitring action is continuing at the French side of the Alpine frontier. The Italian air force bombed air bases at a port of Corsica and also Bermula arsenal at Malta.” The '.tali.m .ommunique also claims that 40 enemy' planes were destroyed and a munition depot blown up during action nn southern France. Five Italian planes had not returned. “Fierce action is proceeding in North Africa against British forces supported by armoured cars _ which attempted to attack in the direction of Sidi Azeis." continues the Italian communique. East African planes raiding Ma'ssawa were shot down. Four enemy planes were down by anti-aircraft guns at Genoa.'