AUSTRALIAN TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1940, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS

MOVE TO EORWARD POSITIONS IN EGYPT WELL-EQUIPPED MECHANISED BODY. ENTHUSIASM FOR TASK AHEAD. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, October 4. The Minister for the Army, Senator Mcßride, today stated that following 12 months’ training in Australia and the Middle East the A.I.F. troops were moving into forward positions in Egypt as a well-equipped mechanised and disciplined unit. He described them as a formidable body full of enthusiasm for the task ahead. ATTACKS BY R.A.F. DAMAGE DONE TO WATER TANKS. CAIRO, October 4. An R.A.F. communique states: “We damaged water storage tanks ,at Buqbuq and raised large columns of black smoke and sent down a fighter at Maiadaga. One of our bombers crashed in flames.” SITUATION UNCHANGED CAIRO OFFICIAL REPORT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.32 a.m.) RUGBY, October 4. A British communique issued at Cairo today states that there is no change in the situation on all the fronts. R.A.F. BOMBING IN THE WESTERN DESERT AND ELSEWHERE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) RUGBY, October 4. An R.A.F. communique issued at Cairo says: “In the Western Desert a raid was carried out on Buqbuq and water storage tanks were damaged. “In Italian East Africa, successful attacks were made on Maiadaga, near Asmara, where, as a result of bombing, a large column of black smoke was observed. Despite intense antiaircraft fire and fighter opposition, the attack was pressed home. One enemy fighter Caproni 42 was seen spinning, apparently out of control, towards the ground at less than 1,000 feet. One British bomber crashed. “Four raids were made on Assab. Naval barracks, oil tanks, a jetty and neighbouring wharf buildings were bombed successfully, a direct hit being registered on the naval barracks.”