AGAIN HIT HARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 26 August 1941, Page 5

AGAIN HIT HARD

OBJECTIVES AT TRIPOLI THIRTY LARGE FIRES STARTED ENEMY SHIPPING BOMBED (Rec. 10.17 a.m.) Rugby, Aug. 25. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “During Saturday night a large force of R-A.F. heavy bombers dropped nearly 2® tons of bombs on docks and supply and petrol dumps at Tripoli. Many direct hits were obtained and the bombs started more than thirty large fires, one of which was of such magnitude that it was still visible 135 miles away. After the bomb attack our aircraft machinegunned objectives in the harbour area and the aerodrome at Mellaha. The attack was carried out from a very low level. “During the same night other aircraft bombed enemy encampments in the Solium, Bardia and Gambut areas. Medium bombers attacked two enemy schooners and an escort vessel each of about 800 tons in the Gulf of Sirte yesterday. One schooner and an escort vessel were sunk, and the remaining ship was left with a heavy list and apparently sinking. “R.A.F. fighters in the Mediterranean yesterday intercepted a number of Junkers 88's which attempted to attack our shipping and shot one down into i the sea. "Photographs taken on a reconnaissance show that the damaged merchant vessel attacked at Tripoli by bombers on Thursday night had her back broken and sunk. “Enemy positions were bombed in the Debarch area in Abyssinia yesterday and bodies of troops machine-gunned on roads in the same area. “All our aircraft returned safely from all these operations.”—B.O.W.