IN MIDDLE EAST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 217, 12 August 1940, Page 7

IN MIDDLE EAST

ITALIANS HAMPERED. R.A.F. STRIKES AGAIN. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Britisli Official Wireless.) Received August 12, 10.7 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 11. An R.A.E.- communique issued in Cairo states: Military camps and motor transport concentrations in the Gabra and Sales area have been successfully attacked by our bombers, all of which returned safely. The wreckage of Savoia bombers washed ashore near Qasaba is believed to be aircraft which were reported to have been intercepted and damaged by our fighters on August 4.

In East Africa the Barnctn aerodrome and dispersed aircraft have been bombed and machine-gunned. A formation of Savoia bombers raided R.A.F. landing-grounds in tho Sudan without causing damage or casualties to R.A.F. personnel. In a raid on Karrin Pass, in British Somaliland, bombs fell among anti-air-craft positions, some of which were silenced. Our* aircraft returned safely. Enemy troop concentrations and an important water hole near Diibats were attacked twice, bombs being seen to fall on a motor transport column. Three Savoias raided Aden, causing silght material damage and killing two natives.

To-day’s Cairo communiquo states: In the Western Desert the patrolling and reconnaissance of enemy activities continue. In Somaliland contact has not yot been established on the main positions. Tho situation at Burao (in the -central area) and to the east is normal. 'There is nothing to report in Palestine, Kenya, and the Sudan. ROME WARNED. EGYPTIAN ARMY READY. CAIRO, Aug. 10. Abdel Rahman Azzambey, commander of Egypt’s Territorials, in a speech said: “Two hundred thousand men lire being trained. Any aggression against Egypt will cost the invader very dearly.” The Egyptian Press choruses a warning to Italy: “The desert is a terrible enemy and the tomb of those who cross. The fate which befel Napoleon’s army on the steppes of Russia awaits Graziani’s army.”

The public are warned against rumour-mongering.

INSIDE ABYSSINIA. BRITISH TROOPS ADVANCE. SOMALILAND OPERATIONS. LONDON, Aug. 10. A communique issued by the British headquarters in Nairobi (Kenya) states: “Our ground forces yesterday without loss occupied Korindal after slight opposition.” Korindal, which is about 75 miles north-east of the northernmost point of Lake Rudolf , is roughly 100 miles inside the Abyssinian frontier.

Two of the three Italian columns which are invading British Somaliland arc reported to be advancing beyond Hargeisa and Oadweina toward a range of hills in which the British are understood to hold strong positions. The advancing columns include many tanks. A communique from the British headquarters in Cairo states: “The Italian advance continues toward our main positions in Somaliland. Tho other fronts aro quiet.” TOBRUK BOMBED. A Royal Air Force communique in Cairo states: “We bombed shipping in Tobruk harbour (Gyrenaica) yesterday, setting a ship on fire. All of our planes returned. One of two British pilots who were shot down in a battle on August 8 were brought hack by I our advance troops. “Our bombers in East Africa attacked an enemy position at Hargeisa and Turbargan Road after a reconnaissance which was carried out by French pilots accompanying tho R.A.F. AVe also bombed anti-aircraft positions and troops in the Karin Pass area. An anti-aircraft battery is believed to have been hit. Direct hits were registered on the buildings near the air force barracks at Massawa (Eritrea). Our planes returned undamaged. A bomb fell near an Italian floating dock during another raid. We raided a fuel dump near Guar and shot down .an Italian fighter, and these planes also returned safely. ADEN RAIDED.

“The South African Air Force bombed Neghelli (Abyssinia), destroying two grounded Italian bombers and damaging two others and setting fire to lorries. They also scored direct hits on buildings and destroyed a machinegun post.” Italian planes raided Aden to-day. One soldier and three natives were killed and five soldiers and 12 natives were injured. Slight material damage was caused. An Italian - communique states: “Italian aircraft bombed .the port and airfield at Berbera (chief town of British Somaliland), hitting one ship, and setting fire to two grounded planes. Italian infantry continued their advance in British Somaliland, occupying Aducin, a camel caravan highway to Berbera. Planes effectively bombed the railwav station at Mersa Matruh (Egypt) and also a concentration of enemy mechanised units’ positions at Barrani (Egvpt). “Jt is reliablv stated that Italian boniliers badly damaged the British battleship Resolution and also a British destroyer at Formentera, in the Balearic Islands.” DEFENCE OF BERBERA. The British are reported to be preparing to make a last stand in British Somaliland at Berbera, according to dispatches from Addis Ababa, states a Rome message. Rumours are current in the native bazaar that the English military leaders at Berbera have already enlisted natives to construct fortifications around Berbera. The same reports indicate that trenches are being dug and redoubts hastily built, while Camel Corps units from all parts of Somaliland are rushing to Berbera to participate in its defence. ' Assistance from Britisli planes believed to number several hundreds at Aden is also said to be expected by the British authorities at Berbera. while Britisli naval units at present patrolling the Gulf of Aden will, it is reported, try to shell any coastal advance from Zeila toward Berbera.