AIR RAIDS IN AFRICA

Southland Times, Issue 24166, 1 July 1940, Page 5

AIR RAIDS IN AFRICA

Italian Aerodrome Attacked

PETROL DUMPS DAMAGED

(British Official Wireless) (Received June 30, 6.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, June 29. Cairo Press messages contain a Royal Air Force communique which states that successful raids were carried out on Friday on petrol and bomb dumps at Macacca when low-flying attacks with bombs and machine-guns were made. Five hours after the raid the main petrol dumps were still burning and others had burned themselves out. It is believed that the greater part of

the petrol stocks at the aerodrome was destroyed. There were heavy explosions when the bomb dumps were attacked. Military huts close by were hit as well as the dumps and were extensively damaged and left burning. All the aircraft returned safely. In the western desert effective raids were carried out on Elgibbu aerodrome and bombs burst among huts and aircraft gathered around a refuelling point. A large petrol fire started, causing a column of smoke to rise 1000 feet into the air. Photographs subsequently revealed direct hits on aircraft, a tented camp and a refuelling point. The enemy was taken entirely by surprise and the British casualties were nil. An enemy fighter and one Ghibli aircraft are reported to have been captured at Sidi Azeiz after being damaged by a fighter. ATTACK ON SUBMARINE A British flying boat on reconnaissance located an gnemy submarine and attacked it. The result is not known. Reports from Alexandria indicate that considerable astonishment has been created there and not a little indignation by the Italian High Command claims about an Italian air raid on Alexandria a week ago in which two Egyptians were killed and 23 injured and some damage done to houses in the city. The Italians claimed this as the most important exploit carried out with tremendous bravery and alleged that the British Fleet was heavily bombed. The latter pretension naturally surprised Alexandrians, who were able to observe for themselves that ships of the British Navy were not hit.

An Italian communique states: “One of our submarines sank a 10,000-ton armed steamer navigating under escort. In Northern Africa an effective bombardment was carried out against enemy troop concentrations. Aeroplanes and hangars were also bombed and 20 aeroplanes on the ground destroyed.” British fighters in Malta went up . when enemy bombers flew over, resulting in one enemy machine being badly damaged. It is believed that it crashed into the sea. POLISH FORCES LEAVE SYRIA BRIGADE JOINS BRITISH IN PALESTINE (British Official Wireless) (Received June 30, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 29. The Polish Government has made known in London that the Polish brigade from Syria has joined up with the British forces in Palestine. When it became apparent that General Eugene Mittelhauser, commander of the French forces, might throw in his lot with the Bordeaux Government the Polish Prime Minister, General Wladyslaw Sikorski, gave the Polish brigade in Syria orders to join the British Army in Palestine. According to reports received today 6000 Polish troops with full war equipment under the command of Brigadier Kowpanski have crossed the frontier and thus avoided disarmament.