FIGHTING IN AFRICA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21156, 4 July 1940, Page 7

FIGHTING IN AFRICA

SUCCESS OF BRITISH FORCES ROYAL AIR FORCE RAIDS ITALIAN POSTS DAMAGED (OmclaJ wireiM*) (Received July 4, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, July 3 A Cairo communique states that Sidi Barrani and Mersamatruh were again bombed on July 1, but there I were no casualties and the damage was negligible. ! In Somaliland a frontier post at ! Bosantino held by regulars was enI gaged by a detachment of the Camel Corps on June 30, and casualties | were inflicted. We lost one Somali ! killed. Royal Air Force bombers, operating from the Sudan, attacked an Italian military concentration at Metema, with satisfactory results. Fires were started in the native troop quarters and machine-gun and artillery posts W were severely damaged. Our aircraft encountered heavy machine-gun fire, but all returned safely. Aircraft of the Rhodesian squadron of the Air Force carried out yesterday afternoon a raid on military concentration in the Moyale area, scoring several direct hits and causing considerable damage. It is unofficially reported that the Royal Air Force destroyed at least 60 Italian planes to June 30, and another 25 are believed to have been lost. The Royal Air Force losses were very small. Fires and Explosions Royal Air Force fighters carried out an operation against the Macaca aerodrome, which was heavily bombed and machine-gunned. A bomb dump was directly hit and a fierce blaze followed a heavy explosion. Subsequently two petrol dumps were set on fire. Two enemy fighters were shot down, and a grounded machine was destroyed. All our planes returned. Italian Claims An Italian war communique states: Strong British forces violently attacked the Italian garrison at Metemma, in Italian East Africa. The Italians counter-attacked vigorously. A subsequent air raid did no damage. Anti-aircraft guns shot down tw9 British planes. Our aviation again successfully bombed air and naval bases at Aden. Italian Story Denied To-day’s Italian communique claims that strong British forces attacking at Metemma were put to flight by a vigorous counter attack and left behind 60 dead and a number of machine-guns. The facts are that a force amounting to about a company, with some Abyssinian irregulars, attacked an Italian Force of about a battalion. Our casualties were one killed and ten wounded. No machine-guns were lost. The Italian losses were about three times this number, including three Italian officers.