LAND OPERATIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 27 October 1941, Page 5

LAND OPERATIONS

BRITISH PATROLS ACTIVE Rugby, Oct.. 25. A Cairo communique states: Enemy bombing of the harbour and b-’se installations at Tobruk was on a heavier scale, as was also hostile shelling in all sectors. Damage, however, was negligible. and there were no "In the western sector one of our patrols, numbering an officer and eight I soldiers, encountered and attacked an e emy patrol 30 strong. The enemy was driven off. sustaining considerable losses. We lost four men. “In the frontier area our mechanised patrols operated over a wide area be tween Hallaya and Sidi Omar, without encountering any opposition. Yesterday one of our patrols which had penetrated deeply into enemy territory returned with Jive German prisoners.” ATTACK ON I-'RENTII SOMALILAND REPORTED According to the correspondent ol the Associated Press at Jibuti, the Governor-General of French Somaliland announced that British and Free French troops have opened an attack on the colony. The correspondent adds that the French claim that British columns have already advanced 30 miles, and are pushing on further. It is authoritatively stated in London. however, that the announcement might be without foundation, as the Vichy authorities are possibly endeavouring to distract attention from the Nazi reprisals for the shootings in France. —8.0. W. SWEEPING SHAKE-UP IN ITALY Rome, Oct. 25. In Italy’s most sweeping shakeup for years, Signor Mussolini has transferred or replaced 60 Fascist trade guild officials. Nineteen of the 22 guilds which control Italy’s economic production have been affected. The reasons for the changes are not announced, but it is assumed that the object is to make the guild system more efficient for meeting the country’s Increasing wartime needs and also to remove causes of public complaint.—U.P.A.