EGYPT'S TASK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23687, 20 June 1940, Page 10

EGYPT'S TASK

BRITISH REQUEST TREATY OBLIGATIONS AFRICAN ATR HOSTILITIES By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received Juno 10, 7.10 p.m.) CAIRO, June IS A member of the British Embassy at Cairo stated that Great Britain has not asked Egypt to declare war on Italy, but merely to carry out the spirit and letter of the AngloEgyptian Treaty and to discourage every activity likely to hamper British military operations. During the last six days 50 trains have evacuated 50,000 from Alexandria. In addition, large numbers have left by steamer antl by road. Departure of Japanese Japanese women and children have been instructed to leave Egypt immediately. The pnblie in Egypt has been warned not to use tombs for air raid shelters. A Royal Air Force communique issued from Cairo states that further raids were oarried out in Italian East Africa on Monday. Massawa was bombed twice and fires were started in the compound near fuel dumps. A defence post was destroyed in the course of a reconnaissance of the Asmara and Gura area and three enemy aircraft on the ground were destroyed. A hangar was set on fire. All tho British aeroplanes returned. South Africans Active The South African Air Force attacked Bardera, a village in Italian Somaliland, and hit the barracks and a radio station. Four enemy aeroplanes were destroyed. From Nairobi it is repofted that eight Italian aircraft were damaged and three destroyed by fire in a series of heavy bombing raids carried ont by units of the Rhodesian and South African Air Forces in Southern Abyssinia on Sunday, states a British official wireless message. Aerodromes at Nagwelli and Avello were heavily punished, as well as an entrenched camp at Mega, where troops, transports, hangars, wireless stations, and also airmen and soldiers walking on the aerodrome were all taken unawares and bombed and machine-gunned. One enemy aeroplane was shot down over Malta, which was little damaged by further Italian raids. Raid in Abyssinia

Eight Italian aircraft were damaged and three destroyed in raids on southern Abyssinia. Troops and transports were bombed. A Rome communique says that during the night of June 16-17 Italian aircraft successfully bombed the naval base at Bizerta, in Tunisia, military objectives in Corsica and Malta, and airfields and ports in Corsica. Submarines sank two enemy tankers. It is added that military operations in North Africa have been continued along the Italian frontier in Cyrenaica.

FIGHT CONTINUES MIDDLE EAST ARMIES ORDERS BY GENERALS CAIRO, June 18 General Eugene Mittelhauser, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in the Middle East, has issued a proclamation to the troops stating that the fight is continuing on laud and sea and in the air. A British official wireless message states that the following order of the day has been issued to the troops by General Sir Alexander Wavell, Com-mander-in-Chief of the British forces in the Middle East: "Our gallant French Allies have been overwhelmed after a desperate struggle, and have been compelled to ask for terms. The British Empire will, of course, continue the struggle until victory is won. There is no question of an3'thing else. We shall again save Europe from tyranny, as we have done before. "Difficult times lie ahead, but they will, I know, be faced with the calm spirit of confidence in which we faced such a crisis before. We stand firm whatever happens. The ' dictators will fade away, but the British Empire never dies." MOZAMBIQUE BORDER TROOPS STAND GUARD British Wireless LONDON, June 18 It is officially stated that a small military force has been despatched bv the South African Government to Komati Poort. in Eastern Transvaal, on the Mozambique border. This is only a precautionary measure, and relations between the Union and Mozambique remain "most friendly and co-operative."