FIERCE BOMBING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 5 August 1941, Page 5

FIERCE BOMBING

BASES IN LIBYA ITALY’S PLANE LOSSES SUEZ CANAL ATTACKED (Elec. Tel Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Oflicial Wireless.) Reed. 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 4. “Squadrons of the South African Air Force, flying Maryland bombers, delivered a heavy attack on enemy gun positions in the Tobruk area yesterday,'” states a communique issued by Royal Air Force Headquarters in the Middle East. “Scores of bombs were seen to fall on the targets. Royal Air Force and South African Air Force fighters carried out offensive patrols over enemy occupied areas. During Saturday nigth a large formation of heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force attacked the harbour at Benghazi. In addition to causing a large number of fires, a direct hit was registered on an enemy anti-aircraft gun battery. One of these aircraft also machine-gunned anti-aircraft guns and searchlights at Berka aeiodrome from a low altitude. "During the same night, aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm bombed the aerodrome at Gambut, while the previous day Royal Air Force bombers attacked Hisurata where they demolished a blockhouse with a direct hit and also severely damaged barrack buildings. Italian Fighters Destroyed ‘‘The Royal Air Force yesterday carried out a successful attack on a number of Italian fighters on the ground at Reggio, in Italy. Fragments of the aircraft were seen flying into the air as a result of the attack, and it is known that a large number of Macchi 200’s were destroyed. From these operations, all our aircraft returned safely.” An oflicial communique issued in Cairo states that air-raid alarms were sounded last evening by the Government in several provinces of Egypt. Bombs were dropped in the Suez Canal area, causing 17 deaths and injuring 58 persons. Slight damage was done to property. A communique issued by General Headquarters, Cairo, states: “Our offensive patrols from Tobruk continued their aggressive activity. Although valuable work has been done in locating and destroying enemy minefields, the enemy has apparently refused to make contact by withdrawing from the forward positions under cover of darkness. “In the frontier area, patrols from our mechanised units again harassed the enemy, particularly by artillery fire.”