NAPLES HEAVILY RAIDED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 283, 1 December 1941, Page 5

NAPLES HEAVILY RAIDED

WIDESPREAD R A F. WORK IN MIDDLE EAST

AXIS SLPPI.Y BASES AXD COMMUNICATIONS

< Recd. 6.3(1 p.m.) Rugliy. Nov. 29 “Widespread offensive operations, including a heavy raid on Naples, are recorded in an R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states: “Continuous attacks on enemy motorise 1 ’ forces, encampments, stores and lane: communications were maintained by our fighter and bomber aircraft in Libya yesterday. Motor transport ai Martuba and on Trigh-Capuzzo. Bardia-Tobruk, and El Gubbi-Faida roads, as well as in the Barce am; Gazala areas, were successfully attacked. Bombs burst among vehicles and tanks in the Trigh-Capuzzo area, while in the Martuba area fires broke out among enemy transport. Violent explosions followed the attack on the El Gubbi-Faida road. ‘ Free French bombers were again active, and in an attack on the north landing-ground at Gazala one large aircraft was destroyed and others damaged.

“During Thursday night raids were carried out on the landing-ground at Derna and on enemy transport near Sidi Omar. At Derna fires broke out among dispersed aircraft, and enemy tents round the aerodrome were machine-gunned. Two groups of enemy vehicles were set on fire at Sidi Omar. “Lighter aircraft made a series of successful attacks over the battle area. In one attack an ammunition lorry was blown up by machine-gun brand a Messerschmitt 110 was shot down.

“An effective raid on military objectives in Naples was made on Thursday night. Direct hits wetc scored on the Royal Arsenal, a torpedo factory, industrial installations, oil storage tanks, and Hie railway station, engine sheds and marshalling yards. Many fires broke out. The aerodrome at Can el Benito, in Sicily, was also attacked.

In the Central Mediterranean yesterday < Friday) four bombers attacked a large merchant vessel from a low level and obtained at least live direct hits. Fire broke out on the ship and clouds of smoke were visible 50 miles away. •

“From these and other operations seven of our aircraft are missing.”— 8.0.W.