LIBYA CAMPAIGN

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21409, 1 May 1941, Page 7

LIBYA CAMPAIGN

PATROL ACTIVITIES MANY PRISONERS TAKEN AIRMEN HELP ARMY comclal Wireless) (Received May 1, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, April 30 A Cairo communique states: There is no change in the situation at Tobruk. Patrol activities at Solium are continuing. A unit of .the Sudan defence force captured Socota, in Abyssinia, on Sunday, inflicting many casualties. A further 515 prisoners were taken, of whom 400 colonials immediately volunteered to enter the Emperor’s service. In all other areas the activities of our own troops and patriots continue steadily to clear the country of isolated detachments. A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: On the night of April 28 the Royal Air Force attacked concentrations of enemy aircraft in Libya. Many bombs burst among dispersed aircraft. It also raided Benghazi Harbour, many explosions occurring. Our fighters continued to harass the enemy by low-level machinegunning. Three enemy aircraft have been shot down by anti-aircraft guns over Tobruk during the past two days. In Abyssinia enemy troops’ positions and ammunition dumps were attacked in the Uadea area by the South African Air Force. Motor transport was destroyed and heavy casualties caused among white and native troops. Direct hits were registered on buildings at the Tandeho aerodrome. Buildings at Sifiani were also hit. Constant Mediterranean convoy patrols have been flown by the Royal Air Force over certain areas, in the course of which enemy aircraft attacks have been repeatedly repulsed. From all these operations four of our planes are missing. FEELING IN FRANCE FRIENDSHIP FOR BRITAIN WOULD RISE IN REVOLT (United Press Assn. —ZJee. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, April 29 Ninety-five per cent of the population of unoccupied France would rise up and fight the Germans if the British landed an armed force on the Mediterranean coast, said M. de Gaillow, a French inventor, on his arrival today from France. He added that about 60 per cent of the people of occupied ■ France favoured General de Gaulle and were working underj ground for him.

AMERICAN MOVES STUDYING AERIAL WAR USE OF ANTARCTIC (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received May 1, 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 30 The United States Army is sending a considerable number of young pilots to Britain to observe the methods and equipment used in modern aerial combat. Admiral Byrd told the Appropriaion’s Committee that the Antarctic could be made a strategic supply base should the Panama Canal be destroyed. Palmer Land was 500 miles from the southern tip of South America and could be used as a base for ships and to cache vital supplies. Little America could be used as a landing place for plane flights between United States and Australia. Mr E. Brown, in a speech, said that 29,000 people were killed in Britain in air raids prior to March 31, and 40,000 injured.