ITALIAN PLANS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21217, 13 September 1940, Page 6

ITALIAN PLANS

MENACE TO EGYPT MOVEMENT OF TROOPS OPINION IN BRITAIN (OlTlclal Wireless) (Received Sept. 13. 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY. Sept. 12 While in the past day or two there have been Italian troops movements in the north of Libya, in the neighbourhood of Capuzzo—a movement which was to be expected—no Italian troops have yet crossed the Egyptian frontier, it was stated in authoritative circles in London today. It has been suggested that the Italians are forming three armies for an attack on Egypt. According to these reports one is to go along the coast via Colum. the second is to operate north-west toward Wadi Haifa from Kassala, and the third along the Sudan-Egyptian frontier from the neighbourhood of Taheida, which is its base. This army, it is presumed, will attempt to travel straight across 400 or 500 miles of almost waterless desert towards Wadi Haifa, to join with the Kassala army. Informed military circles here, while regarding it as quite possible that there might be raids, emphasise that reports of an attack coming from this direction with any force which could fairly be described as an army should be treated with reserve. As far as is known are no German formations supporting the Italian forces in Libya. Claims By Italy An Italian communique states: We bombed by day and night the railway along the Egyptian coast and enemy encampments at Solium and Sidi Barrani, causing fires and explosions. We machine-gunned enemy armoured units. The British ineffectually tried to raid Derna. We destroyed a Blenheim bomber and also probably another. One of our planes has not returned. We srmk two enemy destroyers at Aden on September 1. Italian planes bombed the Khartoum airport, the Hayia railway junction, and the Atbara airport. All our planes returned. The British attempted to attack the Kassala bridgehead, but Italian guns sent them back after an hour’s engagement. Another enemy attack was made at Cherilli but was repulsed. The enemy bombed Assab and Cachaman, south from Addis Ababa, causing slight damage. An enemy plane was shot down. Enemy planes attempted to raid the Massawa naval base, but dropped bombs in the sea. Two raiders were destroyed at Dessye on September 9. An Italian submarine sank 27,000 tons of enemy shipping in the Atlantic. Italian Offensive in Egypt The Rome correspondent of the British United Press says informed circles declared that reports that an Italian offensive has begun in Egypt cannot be denied,” but official confirmation must await a communique.”