WAR IN AFRICA

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1940, Page 5

WAR IN AFRICA

sollitm Occupied AM ITALIAN MOVE, (United Press Association Per Electric Telegraph Copyright). ) LONDON, Sep. 14. It is' announced in to-day’s Cairo communique that the Italians have occupied the enfpty village of Solium. It will be recalled that, as long ago as August 3rd,, the Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East announced that ho had begun to withdraw the armoured .troops. from the Solium ar'ea, and that with this withdrawal a definite phase of action on the Libyan frontier was over: —a phase which had lasted much longer than had been anticipated. The Egyptian frontier force withdrew, in the first week of the war with Italy to avoid involving Egypt in hostilities.' Since that, the barracks'on the escarpment above Solium, have been held by not- more than one company, of. British infantry. Against this the Italians hacl concentrated two., complete,..divisions with a corps of troops and artilllery of a third division. Solium has po, national or military importance of any kind. Its little harbour, is provided, .with a rough breakwater. It has not . been used, or even visited, by any , war vessel; for many years. As a civilian centre it possesses a few. buildings, and tho normal population is', under one thousand. As a military base it is ruled out by the. fadt that’it'lias no watersupply. In. view of the military experts its possession .will not oven facilitate, an advance of Italians along tho coastal road leading to Mersa Mairuh. for the escarpment on top of which the .barracks stand, is virtually precipitous, and the only routes down it to the coast suitable for motor traffic have been destroyed. It will take a long time to repair them. PLANS NOT YET REVEALED. ■ . ; / . CAIRO- Sep.. 1-1.; Jri A British. Headquarters Conununiqua here statesAn Italian assault may come-at any time, although there is no special, -reason to believe .that- ; •an. attack "is imminent. - ‘British*--- 1 forces in Egypt and in the Sudan are fuliy'-prepared.for developments. Some,, enemy movements.’towards the Libyaivt frontier have, been observed. Similarmovements are also reported from Kassala, which place :.it' has airy ays been expected the Italians inigtyk use as a. base for an extension of their'penetration to the Sudani'- However, the moving up of Italian units in Libya' ruav mei-eiy be designed to prevent contmuo&Stalian tswri- « tory’, a., penetration which can -be described as a running’ sore, constantly •causing-, enemy'casualties, to iiien aud material.

ITALIANS ATTACK CONVOYS.,

' k'k-k ROME, Sep. LL An Italian communique states “We. bombed and aerially torpedoed an enemy .convoy of merchantmen iu the Eastern- Mediterranean. A British ship,, which -was . struck bv an aerial torpedo heavily listed, and probably sank. Our bombers scored direct bits on merchantmen in another convoy, and they also probably hit a warship, which ceased fire. ‘All of our planes returned. . “Tfhejre (lias \bcen further activity, .by Italian : scouting patrols on- the Cyreiiaica. (border!. ,We Bombed an enemy camp at Kaselsil, north of. Galata. An enemy plane was shot down in North Africa and'''two others were downed at Dassala on Wednesday list.