IN THE WESTERN DESERT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 December 1940, Page 6

IN THE WESTERN DESERT

ENEMY CONTACTED ON A BROAD FRONT

Advanced Elements Engaged Near Sidi Barrani BRITISH CAPTURE OVER 1000 ITALIAN PRISONERS "Operations Extending Satisfactorily"

| British Official Wireless] (Received I Oth December, 12.20 p.m.) RUGBY, 9th December. A Cairo communique to-day states: “In the Western Desert advanced elements of our forces are now in contact with the enemy cn a broad front. In an engagement south of Sidi Barrani we captured 500 prisoners. Last night our patrols continued extensive activities in the Gallabat area in the Sudan while our artillery again successfully engaged enemy targets. There is nothing to report on the other fronts.” A special Cairo communique states: “Operations in the Western Desert are extending satisfactorily. Five hundred prisoners have already been captured in one area alone while more are being rounded up. The G.O.C. of one of the Italian forces engaged was killed and the second in command captured. The latest report states that the British have taken a total of over 1000 Italian prisoners.

R.A.F. BOMBERS ACTIVE A communique issued by R.A.F. headquarters in the Middle East says: “In the Western Desert bomber aircraft of the R.A.F. attacked Benina aerodrome on the night of Bth-9th December. One hangar was burnt out and three other fires started. Incendiary and high-explosive bombs also fell among aircraft dispersed north of the hangars and a large number are believed to have been damaged. One enemy aircraft was set on fire. “Aircraft of a Rhodesian squadron carried out a bombing attack on Adarbed, Italian East Africa, where a direct hit was registered on a machinegun post and number of fires were started. Bombs also fell among stores and dumps. A second machine-gun post was silenced by machinj-gun fire from our aircraft. “During a raid on Asmara on 7th December a fire was caused and aerodrome hangars were hit. At Burria. Italian East Africa, a bomb burst among sheds, starting a large petrol fire. Enemy fighters intercepted our bombs during the raid and one of our aircraft was shot down. The crew were seen escaping by parachute.”

Air Force bombers to-night heavily raided Castel Benito, near the town of Tripoli (Libya). They set fire to hangars and destroyed at least eight grounded planes. Hits were scored on all five hangars on the aerodrome, two of which were set on fire, causing tremendous explosions of petrol and bomb dumps. Administrative quarters were also hit and large fires were started. Other hangars were damaged by incendiary bombs and machine-gun fire. The attack was apparently a complete surprise. All the British planes returned. DAMAGE CONFIRMED | British Official Wireless i (Received 10th December. 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, 9th December. Photographic reconnaissance has confirmed the extensive damage done during the raid on Castel Benito, near Tripoli. ITALIAN COMMUNIQUE |! u.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] (Received 10th December, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, 9th December. An Italian communique says that the ; R.A.F. bombed Tripoli, Benghazi, and | Gallabat. Italian artillery routed enemy mechanised columns in North Africa. niTHiiiiiiiiiiTmTiiiiiiiTiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimi

SURPRISE RAID

LIBYAN AERODROME HIT LONDON, 9th December. It is officially announced th Royal