ITALIAN CLAIMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24326, 17 June 1940, Page 8

ITALIAN CLAIMS

A DESTROYER SUNK AIR RAIDS ON ADEN MENTION OF NAVAL CONFLICT 'British Official’ Wireless) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ROME. June 15. (Received June 16, at 9.10 p.m.) The latest Italian communique states: “ On the Alpine front we carried out movements to prearranged dispositions, occupying some localities beyond the frontier. The enemy’s efforts to impede our action were repulsed Some prisoners were taken. “The torpedo-boat Calataflni torpedoed two large enemy destroyers, of which one sunk. Localities on the Riviera were hit by the enemy and some civilians were killed. "Despite the unfavourable weather conditions, we carried out a new and effective bombardment against military objectives. Reconnoitring was carried out over enemy bases. One enemy submarine was sunk by one of our seaplanes. Activities in Africa " In Northern Africa the enemy renewed his attacks with armoured units against our border posts. ,The attacks have been held in efficacious action. Our aviation had considerable results. There have been intense reconnoitring activities in Tunis. “In East Africa, our aviation, besides numerous reconnaissances beyond the border, carried out on June 13 successive .waves of air raids on Aden, directly hitting objectives and shooting down one enemy machine. One of our planes failed to return. In the afternoon the aerial base at Vair was bombarded., causing damage. All our planes returned. “On the afternoon of June 12 and the night of June 13 the British bombed the village .of Lobua and the airport at Asseb. Not much damage was done. Enemy aviation at night raided several cities in central and north Italy. Intense reconnoitring took place over the territory 1 of Tunis. “At dawn on June 13 our navy clashed with an enemy naval formation, composed of cruisers and torpedo-boats, in which the sea coast defences and our navy went into action.” It is officially announced that 11 persons were killed and 52 wounded in naval and air attacks on various Italian cities. Six were killed and 22 wounded in naval and air attacks on Savona, near Genoa. '■ Leaflets dropped by British planes over Rome stated: “The Duce wanted war.. Here it is. Whether you win or lose, the Italians will always surfer, because Italy will always be poor. France has nothing against you. Lay down your arms.”. Another leaflet read: “Italian women, nobody has attacked Italy. Your sons, husbands and sweethearts have not left you to defend their- country. They will suffer and die to satisfy the pride of one man. Victorious or defeated, you will have hunger, misery and slavery.” , Contact with French *An earlier Italian communique stated: “Italian troops established contact for the first time with French soldiers in the Alpine region along the Italo-French frontier. A French attempt to capture, the mountain top of Galisia. in Italian territory, was thrown back. “’ln the centre of the Mediterranean the Italians sank two enemy submarines and seriously damaged another. Our planes bombed the region of Tunisia, machine-gunned French planes, and also bombed the air base at Fayence. All but one of the Italian planes returned to their bases. “ Enemy attempts in. North Africa against Italian outposts on the Egyptian frontier were repulsed. Our planes destroyed a number of enemy tanks and bombed Port Sudan and the port and airport at Eden, where we .lost two planes. "■ “The enemy attempted to, cross the Ethiopian frontier near Moyale. coming from Kenya, but were repulsed. Enemy planes bombed various points in' Eritrea and caused slight damage.’