TOBRUK BOMBED

Grey River Argus, 20 January 1941, Page 6

TOBRUK BOMBED

- R.A.F. RAIDERS BUSY On Several African Fronts [British Official Wireless] (Received January 19, 6.30 p.m.' RUQ.BY, January 13In a ' communique to-day, the G.H.Q. at Cairo states: There is no change in the situation. Saturday’s communique hom tne RAF headquarters in the Middle East said: “On the night Jaau . ai „ y 16-17, Tobruk wa s raided by R.a.b . bombers, bombs being dropped on military buildings, causing two large fires, and ten violent explosions. Smaller fires and one large explosion were also caused near the mam wharf. Derna was also raidect. a large number of bombs being dropped on barracks. Our fighters mamtained. their usual patrols, duxiag which on e enemy aircraft, an 5.79 or 5.72 was destroyed. Despite tmiavouwable weather, Mar'itza aerodrome was attacked on the night of January 16-17, fires and explosions being caused, the fires still blazing when our aircraft left the target. In Italian East Africa, Caprom workshops in the Mai Adaga area were again attacked, and there was one direct hit on a large workshop. All the other bombs fell' very close to the target, another target being a motor transport park. Our aircraft also attacked motor transport rear Bergen, and gun emplacements at Zina. From the above operations one of our aircraft has failed to return.” r T 1 _ LONDON, January 17.

The Royal Air Force is harrying the Italians, who are trying to form _ defence line 100 miles west of the beleaguered town. To the east and the south of the town artillery and aircraft ar e keeping up a bombardment, with the Navy joining in from the north.

An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: A further raid was made on the night of January 15-16 by R.A.F. bombers on Catania, Sicily. Heavy explosions and a large fire were caused at a north-west hangar, by the first aircraft over the target. This fire burned fiercely throughout the attack, and was visible over fifty miles away. It assisted the following aircraft t 0 identify the target. In addition, a large fire was caused among the administrative buildings, and another near the last hangar, where several aircraft were observed to be ablaze. Explosions were also caused among the aircraft dispersed along the southern boundary of the aerodrome. All our ’planes returned safely. In the Western Desert, Derna was raided, bombs falling on military barracks. Our fighters maintained the usual patrols, without engaging any of the enemy. A Cairo communique states: No change in the situation on all fronts. Th e story of the capture of General Argentine after the fall of Bardia has been told in London. A British sergeant saw an Italian soldier slip into a cave on the coast and called on the occupant to come out. There was no answer.

Seeing a British colonel having a bathe, ‘ the sergeant told him. and they went together to the mouth of the cave, where the colonel, clad only in his slippers, stood outside with a revolver at the ready, while the sergeant crawled into the cave shooting. The Italians then came out and surrendered. Among them was the General.

British Position in Libya 150 SQUARE MILES OCCUPIED (Received January 19, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 18 British patrols in Libya now travel ninety miles west of Tobruk beloie meeting Italians. Derna i s the next point of Italian resistance, but intervening stretches are empty of defenders. The British now control an area in Libya of 150 miles square, with only two islands of resistance in it, namely Tobruk and . w?' Th e furthest main point of British penetration is Gazaia, consisting o a roadside blockhouse with rwin aerodromes on each side of the road. The British found twenty-thres un- ; Italian .p*anes Hereabouts. This corner ol Libya is rapidly returning to normal. Italian plane s ar e rarely seen, and Bedouins evacuated to Egypt are returning £ their desert homeland in the waKV of the British Army.

500 Casualties AMONG THE AUSTRALIANS. MELBOURNE, January 18. With the release of the thid casa " alty list of the battle of Baidia, t e military authorities announced that the total of A.I.F. battle casualties would be greater than expected recently. The Minister of the Army iMr Spender) said advice from the Middle East confirmed the original estimate of the Australian casualties at Baidia, as approximately 500.

Italian Report BRITISH TROOPS BOMBED (Received January 19, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, January 18. An Italian communique ieports increased artillery and patrol activity at Tobruk. Italian aircraft have bombed and machine-gunned enemy troops on the Jarabub front.

ENEMY AIR RAIDS (Received January 19, 7 P- m -l RUGBY, January 18. The G.H.Q. at Cairo reports: "Enemy aircraft raided Summit on th e night of January 16-17. they dropped a number of bombs on t R.A.F. camp. Only slight damag was caused. Other enemy aircraft raided our aerodromes near Aviv, but no damage or casualties have been reported.”

ITALIAN HOPES. (Received January 19, 8.19 p.m.) LONDON, January 18. The Rome Radio announced that

Marshal Graziani has sent a message to the Italians in Libya affirming his absolute faith in Italy’s final victory. ITALIAN ADMISSION. I Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON January 18. A Rome broadcast to the Italian Empire pointed out that the Italians in East Africa must new produce many goods for themselves, “since the Empire is virtually cut off from Italy.”