AIR ACTIVITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23761, 14 September 1940, Page 12

AIR ACTIVITY

BRITISH OPERATIONS LARGE MILEAGE FLOWN FRONTIER PATROL CLASH (Received September 13, 6.40 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12 The Cairo correspondent of the Times says that the Royal Air Force, the South African Air Force, the Rliodesian squadron, and French units have carried out more than 250 successful bombing raids during - the last three months. Over this period fighters and reconnaissance machines of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East have flown more than 2,500,000 miles. A Royal Air Force communique issued at Cairo states: "Our bombers yesterday launched a series of raids against Libya, starting four fires at Amseat, and bombing the landing ground at Derna, bombs falling among aircraft. Two large fires broke out in the harbour and on the jetty at Derna, and several fires were started at Bardia. "The South African Air Force bombed Sciasciamanna, in central Abys- ' sinia, and destroyed one aeroplane and damaged four." Enemy Machines Destroyed A communique issued from Cairo headquarters states: "Khartoum was bombed yesterday. No damage was done and there were no casualties. All is quiet'in Kenya," A later communique issued in Cairo . states: "On "Wednesday .Mersa Matruh, in Egypt, was again bombed without any important damage and only one casualty. Four Savoia aeroplanes were destroyed. Enemy aircraft were active against our forward troops, but caused no damage. "Our patrols in Kenya actually engaged the enemy in a northern frontier district on a 200-mile front between and Turbi, and inflicted losses. In the Sudan, on Tuesday, in the Kassala area, enemy defences on the Tyest bank of the River Gafh were heavily bombed. In Palestine there is nothing to report." Italians Claim Successes A Rome communique states: "We bombed by night and by day the railway.along the Egyptian coast, and also enemy encampments at Solium and Sidi Barrani, causing fires and exploeions/ We machine-gunned enemy armoured units. "The British ineffectually tried to raid JDerna. We destroyed a Blenheim bomber and probably another. One of our machines has not returned. "We' sank two enemy destroyers at Aden' on September 1. "Italian aeroplanes bombed the Khartoum airport, the Hayia railway junction and the Atbara airport. All > pur' aeroplanes returned. "Theßritish attempted.to attackKaseala; bridgehead, but Italian guns sent them back after an hour's engagement. Another enemy attack on Cherilli was jilso repulsed. "The enemy bombed Assab Chachaman, south from Addis Ababa, causing slight damage. An enemy aeroplane " was shot down. Enemy aeroplanes attempted to raid Massawa naval base, but dropped their bombs into the sea. Two raiders were destroyed at Dcssyo on iMonday." HIGHER WAGES I DEMAND BY ENGINEERS AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL SHIPS ADELAIDE. Sept. 13 / The Minister of the Navy, Mr. A. G. Cameron, officially announced that the engineering crews of the hospital ship Nanunda and the merchant ship Reynalla, . formerly the Italian vessel Remo, had refused to take those vessels to sea unless they were given tho equivalent of the sterling rate of pay together with a 25 per cent bonus. Mr. Cameron described the men's action as wage profiteering, which would not be tolerated..