CAPTURE OF ITALIAN FORTS

Southland Times, Issue 24154, 17 June 1940, Page 5

CAPTURE OF ITALIAN FORTS

A War Office communique said that on June 14 British troops, acting in close co-operation with the Royal Air Force, attacked Fort Cappuzzo and Fort Maddalona, Italian forts near the EgyptLibya frontier. Fort Cappuzzo was captured, four Italian officers and 100 soldiers being, taken prisoner, and Fort Maddalona surrendered. No other details of this action are at present available.

A communique states that Italian aeroplanes attacked and slightly damaged Wajir aerodrome. Four African soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. Italian aeroplanes attacked Egypt’s important western desert defence bastions of Sollkm and Sheggaweshka. Little material damage was done. Royal Air Force bombers made night attacks on Assab. One of four tri-motored aeroplanes on the ground suffered a direct hit. The others are believed to have been damaged. The Royal Air Force blew up ammunition stores at Capruzzo, extensively damaging the

fort, which was subsequently occupied by land forces. A single seater Italian aeroplane was shot down. Alexandria’s second air raid occurred this afternoon. The population took shelter. Berbera was raided from the air this afternoon. There was slight damage. A Pretoria communique states that a South African Mobile Force is serving with the British in East Africa. A Nairobi message states that the South African Air Force bombed Kismayu aerodrome, setting fire to barracks full of Italian soldiers. Other buildings were also hit. Anti-aircraft guns were put out of action. All the machines returned. A reconnaissance party of British light tanks carried out the first action on the Egyptian-Libya border in which 62 Italians were taken prisoners. The tanks charged an Italian wire wall marking the frontier and completely surprised an outpost.