WAR IN AFRICA

Grey River Argus, 11 September 1940, Page 6

WAR IN AFRICA

Italian Supply Ships SUNK BY SUBMARINES RUGBY, September 9. Recent successful activities of British submarines are mentioned in an Admiralty communique, which states that British submarines, operating in the Mediterranean waters, are adding considerably to the Italian High Command’s difficulties in keeping its army in Libya supplied. The submarine Osiris has sunk an Italian supply ship of about 3000 tons. The submarine Rorqual attacked a convoy of two supply ships, escorted by one destroyer. The Rorqual torpedoed and sank both Italian supply ships. Italian Air Raids AT SEVERAL POINTS ROME, September 9. A communique states: Our planes started large fires in the oil refinery at Haifa, and hit ships and dockyards at Alexandria, also the Alex-andria-Mersamatruh railway. Our planes attacked Bomba, in the Sudan, and the railway station and oil dumps at Port Sudan. All our planes returned. RUGBY, September 9. A Cairo communique slates: Some damage and casualties were caused by an enemy air raid on .Matruh. There was little damage and no casualties when the enemy bombed Bura. ALEXANDRIA, September 9. Anti-aircraft fire drove off Italian bombers attempting to attack British warships. A few bombs were dropped. One man was killed, and another was injured. No military objective was hit. BRITISH SUBMARINE LOST RUGBY, September 9. An Admiralty communique announces that the submarine Phoenix is considerably overdue, and must be considered lost. BRITISH AIR RAID ROME, September 9. An Italian communique states: The enemy .bombed Mogadishu, Massawa, and Berbera. There were no casualties, and slight damage was done. An enemy plane was shot down over Moggio. IN ABYSSINIA , CAIRO, September 9. A report states: One of our Kenya patrols advanced to Corai (Abyssinia) where they engaged a strong force of irregulars, inflicting casualties. (Received September 10, 8.40 p.m.) NAIROBI, September 10. A communique here states: “One of our patrols penetrated sixteen miles into Abyssinia, eighty miles east of Lake Rudolf. They found forty bands occupying a fort. The patrol inflicted several casualties, and withdrew without loss.” BRITISH REINFORCEMEN i 6 THEIR ARRIVAL IN EGYPT. LONDON, September 8. Big of British troops, in accordance with Mr Churchill sannouncement in the House ol Commons have arrived to reinforce the army in the Middle East. They came in the biggest convoy of ships yet to arrive in the Middle East since the beginning of the 1 war. In Ih e convoy were British, Rhodesian, Indian and Australian troops, and there were several thousand men from the tralian Air Force. Reports from Cairo described stirring scenes which marked the arrival of the convoy. One correspondent said that nothing like it had been seen before. Mast after mast appeared from sunris e until the roadstead could hold no more—but still they came. Troops disembarked mroughout the day, among them many who had seen fighting in France. All the men were happy and their on<> idea was to have a smack at the enemy. The voyage was uneventful, and not single Italian ship was seen The Commander-in-Chief In the Middip East (General Sir Archibald Wavell) told the troops that he want- ! ed them to fit themselves to take their places with the many other troops of the British Empire fighting in Africa as soon a s possible. H e assured them that by serving in the Middle East they were doing as much to defeat the enemy as if they wer P defending their homes in the United Kingdom