WAR IN AFRICA

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1940, Page 5

WAR IN AFRICA

INVASION OF EGYPT NO BRITISH CON FIRM ATI ON a (United Press Association Per Electric Telegraph Copyright). * LONDON. September 13. There is still no news from British sources'regarding Italian claims that an invasion of Egypt has begun. ITALIAN REPORT, LONDON, September 12. The British United Press Rome correspondent says: Informed circles declared that reports that an Italian offensive has begun in Egypt cannot, be denied, “but official confirmation must await a communique.” “The Times” says: Combined operalions of the R.A.F. and Fleet Air Ann have rendered Tobruk utterly use- j Jess for supplying • Italian troops, and ; as a base for submarines and warships. Tim harbour lias been cleared of former crowded shipping, including five submarines, of which at least one was sunk. The harbour is ■ now littered with ships sunk, or lying ' drunkenly on their siflos.

BRITISH REPORT

RUGBY, September 12

While in the past clay or two, there have been Italian troop movements in the north of Libya, in the neighbourhood of Capuz/.o—a movement which was to be expected—no Italian troops have yet crossed the Egyptian frontier, it was stated in authoritative circles in London to-dav. ft has been suggested the Italians are forming three armies for an attack on Egypt. According to these reports, rn'o is to go along the const via Solum, the second to operate north-west towards Wadi Haifa from Ivassala, and the third along the Sudan-Egyptian frontier from the neighbourhood of Taoida, which is its base. This army, it is presumed, will attempt to travel straight across four or five hundred miles of almost waterless desert towards Wadi Haifa, to join with the Kassala army. Informed military circles here, while regarding it as quite possible there might be raids, emphasise that reports of an attack coming from this direction, with any force 1 which could fairly bo described as an army, should be treated with reserve.

As far as is known, there are no German formations supporting the Italian forces in Libya. .

A communique issued at Cairo states: On Wednesday, Matruh, in Egypt, was again bombed by the Italians. without any important damage, and only one casualty. Enemy aircraft was active against our forward troops, but caused no damage..

Italian machines bombed Mersa, Matruh, in Egypt, and Khartoum, in the Sudan No damage was done, and there was only one casualty, which occurred in Mersa Matruh.

ITALIAN CLAIMS ROME. September 12. A communique. states: We bombed by day and night the railway along the Egyptian coast, and enemy encampments at Solium and Sidi Barrani, causing fires and explosions. We machine-gunned enemy aromured units* Wo sank two enemy destroyers at Aden, on September 1. / An Italian submarine sank 27.000 tons of enemy shipping in the Atlantic Ocean. Italian planes bombed the Khartoum airport, the Hayia railway junction, and the Atbara airport. All our planes returned. The British ineffectually tried to raid Denia. We destroyed a Blenheim number, and also probably another. One of our planes has not returned. '■ The British attempted to attack lhe lva.ssn I a bridgehead, but the Italian guns sent them back after an hour’s engagement. Another enemy attack, made at Cherilli, was also repulsed. The enemy bombed Assab and C’ashaman, south from Addis Ababa, causing slight damage. An enemy plane was shot down. Enemy planes attempted to raid the Massawa, naval base, but dropped their bombs in the sea. Two raider were destroyed at Dessye on September 9.

THREE MONTHS’ RAIDS

LONDON, September 13

The Cairo correspondent of “The Times” savs: The- R.A I. planes, too South African Air Force, the Rhodesian Squadron and French units, have carried out over 230 success! ill bombing raids in the last rhtee months, during which R.A.F. Middle East fighters and loconnaisscurs have flown over 2,500,000 miles.

ENEMY MOVEMENTS. (Received this day at 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, September 14. A communique issued from General Headquarters at, Cairo says in Egypt the thickening up of the enemy’s defences on the west of the frontier is continuing. Beyond the usual raid on Mersa Matruli, air activity is slight. It is now confirmed that one enemy aircraft was brought down by anti-aircraft file on the night of September .10-11.

On other frailts tiiere were no operations to report.

An official communique issued at Nairobi, states patrols were at live on all parts of lhe front, One encountered superior enemy forces al V al Caris, on t li,, frontier of Italian Somaliland, and inflicted easiiao ie, Our casualties Were ci the slightest.