ITALIAN TROOPS ARE POOR

Southland Times, Issue 24163, 27 June 1940, Page 6

ITALIAN TROOPS ARE POOR

BRITISH SUCCESSES IN AFRICA

MINOR ENCOUNTERS SO FAR

ABYSSINIANS GAVE AID IN ONE ATTACK

(British Official Wireless) (Received June 26, .6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 25.

Though no major military operations have yet been undertaken in Africa it is clear that minor encounters with Italian troops so far have resulted in substantial British successes.

On the Kenya front the border town of Mayale has been successfully raided several times and stores there have been captured. At El Wak an attack succeeded in destroying Italian barracks and ammunition stores and before withdrawing our troops repulsed a strong counter-attack by the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties. On the Sudan front the garrison at Mettema was attacked by our troops, assisted by Abyssinians, and 50 casualties were inflicted on the enemy. From our base at Kassal an attack was made upon a column of Italian colonial troops who were routed with the loss of 75 killed and 10 captured. On the British Somaliland front there have been only skirmishes, \ but these invariably have resulted in our irregular troops gaining an advantage.

In both Italian East Africa and Libya repeated air attacks have destroyed parked aircraft belonging to the enemy, ammunition dumps, petrol stores and aircraft workshops. FRONTIER POSTS TAKEN The British have captured three frontier posts on the Libyan front. Our armoured patrols penetrated deeply behind the enemy front lines and the enemy’s surprise in every case has been complete. Our losses have been small, whereas the enemy has suffered considerably on several occasions; we have captured 25 Italian officers, including the senior engineer general of the 10th Army, arid 600 other ranks. Twelve light tanks have been captured or destroyed and much other material taken. Many of the Libyans conscripted into the Italian forces who have fallen into British hands have expressed the hope that they should be allowed to join our ranks and fight for the liberation of their country from Italian tyranny. Shipping concentrated in Tobruk harbour was attacked with success and the cruiser San Giorgio suffered heavy damage. In air combat the Italians have given a poor account of themselves and their performance seems to confirm the belief that the training of Italian pilots and staff has been relatively inadequate. RAID ON ENCAMPMENT A Royal Air Force official communique issued in Cairo today says that aircraft attacked Birelboggi in the western desert yesterday. The raid on the military encampment was a complete surprise. Tents were bombed and there were scenes of tremendous activity as the trodps rushed to shelters. In a raid on Asmara aerodrome considerable damage was done to hangars and runways suffered direct hits. When our aircraft left the aerodrome was enveloped in smoke. Fighters took off to intercept our bombers, but the enemy showed no particular desire to press home the attack. All our aircraft returned safely- ~ , , Bristol Blenheims raided Biredawa aerodrome and two enemy fighters intercepted them, but made off after one was severely damaged. One of our aircraft failed to return. On Sunday Blenheim bombers raided Jigajiga and bombs fell close to aircraft dispersed in the area, which must have suffered damage. The garrison and people of Malta, replying to the Prime Minister (Mr Winston Churchill) said: “We are determined, with God’s help, to maintain the integrity of this part of the Empire. Whether the time is short or long we are confident of final victory.” The British have destroyed more than 50 Italian aeroplanes by combat or ground defences on the various fronts.