HARO BLOWS FOR ITALIANS

Southland Times, Issue 24332, 13 January 1941, Page 5

HARO BLOWS FOR ITALIANS

BRITISH ACTIVITY IN AFRICA MANY RAIDS BY R.A.F. (British Official Wireless) (Received January 12, 10 p.m.) RUGBY, January 11. A Cairo communique states: In the Tobruk area operations are progressing satisfactorily. On the Sudan and Kenya frontiers vigorous action by our patrols is continuing. Italian casualties at Bardia, incapacitated and captured, amount to 2041 officers and 42,027 men. In addition, we captured or destroyed 367 medium field guns, 26 heavy anti-aircraft guns, 68 light guns, 13 medium tanks, 117 light

tanks and 708 transport vehicles. A high degree of unserviceability in this equipment, and more especially in the mechanical transport, resulted largely from our bombardment of Bardia, but it also shows a complete lack of maintenance during and after the Italian rout from Sidi Barrani.

A Nairobi communique states: On January 9 our troops entered Buna, Turbi, and the Turbi hills completely unopposed. No contact was made with the enemy in these areas. Enemy infantry and transport were successfully bombed at Dobel and Dando.

An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: During the night of January 9 Royal Air Force bombers raided enemy aerodromes at Benina and Berka. At Benina the runway, hangars, buildings and aircraft were hit and fires and explosions caused A number of enemy aircraft was destroyed at Berka as the result of bombing, and considerable damage was done to barracks, hangars and other aerodrome buildings. Our fighters maintained constant patrols in the Tobruk and Derna areas yesterday. No conclusive engagements were made with the enemy. IN EAST AFRICA In Italian East Africa attacks were made on the Capron! workshops at Mai Adaga. Fires were started in the target area. At Asmara a large number of bombs were observed to burst among buildings causing heavy explosions, while in the Tashai Tessenei area divebombing attacks were carried out on troop concentrations. Tire aerodrome at Mavello, Abyssinia, was attacked on January 9 by South African aircraft. A large number of bombs were dropped on the target area resulting in a fire which spread rapidly over the aerodrome. Two aircraft were destroyed and others undoubtedly damaged. Numerous reconnaissances, from which the most valuable data was obtained, were carried out. From all these operations, and including other operations in Albania, our aircraft returned safely.