1941-01-17 — Page 16

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MIDDLE

EAST

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 17, 1941.

RAIDS

30 Enemy Aircraft Left Burned Out On Ground

HEAVY RAID BY R.A.F.

WRITING ON THE WALL

Hitler will be broken against the iron will of the British people." de-¦ clared the Air Minister, Sir Archibald Sinclair, speaking at Glasgow yes- terday.

ON BENGHAZI

BETWEEN THIRTY and forty German and Italian aircraft were burned out or severely damaged during the R.A.F.'s initial raid on Catania airport in Sicily on Sunday night, it is now revealed.

Italy's principa! Libyan port, Benghazi, was heavily raided both on Monday and Tues day nights.

Britain will

not be his next

These disclosures are made in damaged, One hangar was com- victim. he said, "but one county RAF. communique issued in plotely wreck 1. another was which is in real peril of complete Cano last night. Describing the very badly da aged and a third Nazi domination is Haly, brought¦ to the edge of destruction by the Benghazi rands, the communique had been hit. infatuated ambition of Mussolinis that the main mole of the harbour was heavily bombed and large res

among were caused

Cus- the buildings around the toms House

The Abyssinians were now 121 arms and he hoped there would not be a long wait before regain their independence

they

"Fascism is doomed and friend of Italy must hope that the strom Italian forces will break the grip of the Fascist bosses before they drag Italy down withem German slavery."

ante

Formidable Enemy

Uttering a word of caution over the victorious achievements in Libya, Sir Archibald Bald that behind the defeated armies of Italy loomed the huge arm- ica of Germany-there was most formidable enemy.

"Something else has happened too," he added. "The great Re- public of the United States has taken its stand for freedom against Nazidom. If Hitler and his Ger- man dupes dare raise their eyes they will

see the writing upon the wall of Congress-the Aid to Britain Bill.”—Reuter

A heavy explosion occurred at the base of the Mole.

Administrative buildings at the air base had been heavily damaged

bomb and

craters were observed on the aero- drome.

Other bombers hit buildings on the quayside and straddled the Government buildings. Shipping East was also attacked

the

1

and

also cords The communique that raids were made in Italian!

Africa against stores at Assab un

night Tuesday Asmara theagains! In their return journey.

previous! R.A.. taiders machine-gunned night, and reports that from all f Benira aerodrome and two enemy the operations, all but one fight- aircruit were set on fire

ander, shot down in Libya, returned. damage was caused to a number safely. or others.

No Opposition

a In the forward area (of the British advance into Libya) b"- tween Tobruk and Derna. fighters maintained constant pa- | trol but no engagements with the

enemy took place.

Photographic reconnaissanc over Catania (Sicily) showed that the raid carried out or Sunday | night was more effective than was first thought. Between thirty and forty aircraft could be seen, either burned out or

Reuter,

WHAT

SHOULD

HAVE BEEN

have

Bardia should severely taken many months to conquer, in the opinion of a correspondent who has

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INSPECTION INVITED

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Inside the perimeter of defences the whole uren is a natural fort, he writes.

Bonib and shell proof shelters abounded in the ravines and huge stores of food and ammunition were found.

General Headquarters was in a mass of caves and the Gen. eral Officer Commanding had 30 feet of work over his head.

Well constructed concrete de- fence posts were found all over the place.

The capture of Bardia, he con- cludes, might well have taken our forces a month or more, and it is little short of amazing that, on the contrary, they should now be faying 'slegs to Tobruk, Reuter.

EVEN ROME ADMITS IT NOW

Even the Italians now admit that they do not control even the narrow- est part of the Mediter-

ranean.

Rome Radio said yesterday: "From the Italión point of view, it is becoming increasingly clear. that we must intensify our efforts to control the Sicilian channel by naval and air means and ́attack effectively against convoys."

The view expressed on Wed- nosday by the Bovist, newspa- per"""Trud" that the Britis Navy is master of the

rancang routes is supported by the Roms correspondent of sha

Spanish 'News Agency,

He writes that the Mediterran-" can remains open to British mer-; chantships and along its routes. Britain can supply and reinforce gither Greece' or North Africa. -- Router

STOP PRESS

The prefix "special" to telegrams is and used by the **Sunday Herald" "China Mail to indicate news which is strictly copyright under the prove siona of the Telecommunications Or. dinance, 1938, and may not be reprint- ed under any circumstances, either wholly or in part, without prior ar- rangement.

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