HEAVY DAMAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21784, 14 October 1940, Page 8

HEAVY DAMAGE

Attacks On Italian Bases British Official Wireless (Received October 13, 6.30 p.m.i RUGBY, October 12. Highly successful raids on Benghazi end Tobruk are described in a Royal Air Force communique on Saturday evening. It states: “Attacking in waves our aircraft were successful in causing great damage at Benghazi without loss. One ship moored alongside the breakwater received a direct hit and was set on fire. The military station was hit and set on fire, while several other fires broke out among warehouses.. Last evening our bombers made another attack on Tobruk. Bombs were seen to fall on the quay and others close to the stern of a large ship. Direct hits were made on another ship in spite of heavy antiaircraft fire. Extensive reconnaissance flights were also made over Libya. In Eritrea, Asmaratuas was again raided, bombs falling among hangars and other buildings. Gura was raided on*October 10 and 11. On the first day there was a large fire with two explosions and two small fires were also started. On the second day, when Maiadage was also raided, all the bombs fell on the target area. Aircraft of the South African air force were again active over Abyssinia and Italian Somaliland. Neghelli, in Abyssinia, was raided for a fifth time. Heavy bombs were dropped among aerodrome buildings and direct hits registered. Considerable dair-ge was caus’d to an Italian motor transport in this area. Birikau, in Italian Somaliland, was bombed for a fourth time. Italian aircraft attempted raids on the Wasir and Lodwar area but these were unsuccessful, causing no damage or casualties. From all these operations our aircraft returned safely.” According to a message from Cairo a Royal Air Force communique says: “We several times bombed important military objectives at Benghazi on Thursday night. Large fires in dock warehouses were visible for 30 miles. ’Planes repeating the attack after three hours were guided by the fires. Three ships in the harbour also the naval dockyard were directly hit. Shipping at Tobruk was also damaged. The main pierhead at Assab was set on fire and a harbour building damaged. Motor transport on the Dessie-Assab road was machine-gunned. All the ’planes returned safely.” A headquarters communique says: “A mechanised patrol attacked the enemy at Gebelgamal, Sudan on Wednesday, leaving 18 dead. Our casualties were one killed arid one wounded.” A Rome communique says: “Motor- • ised reconnaisseurs in North Africa captured two fully Equipped tanks abandoned by the enemy. Our air formations bombed aerodromes and railway installations eastwards from Sidi Barrani and Mersa Bagush, and also bombed El Kassada. All our planes returned. The enemy bombed Benghazi, Barida and Sidi Barrani. Five civilians were injured and the Roman Catholic cathedral at Benghazi was damaged. The enemy also bombed Burgawa in Somaliland, Negelli, Guara Gurane, Adivigi and Assab, doing slight damage.