Evening star., 1940-08-10
R. A. F. bombers
Blast Italians
In SomaIiIand
Column Advancing
Toward Brituin's
Main Positions
By the Associated Press.

~ 1le aSeoCldtcu FIcbS.
CAIRO, Egypt. Aug. 10.-Italian
motorized infantry and guns con-
tinued their advance toward Brit
aims main positions" in the hills
south of Berbera in Somaliland to-
day, the British admitted, despite
heavy air attacks on Italian supply
ports and military concentrations.
At the same time Egypt hastened
steps to prepare for a possible CO.
ordinated Italian drive toward the
Suez Canal.
The British communique said, 1.-The
italian advance is continuing toward
our main positions"
A previous announcement said
the Italians had been bombed as
they threaded their way through
Karin Pass In the hot, barren slopes
Just east Of Hargeisa, which the
Italians occupied early this week.
toward Berbera, principal British
port overlooking the Gulf of Alden.
Alden, $50 miles across the gulf.
was bombed f1ercely this morning
by Italian raiders.
Reports direct from Alden said
one soldier and three natives
were killed and II persons
wounded)
Tobruk Harhor Raided.
In one of the biggest raids aimed
at Italian objectives yesterday, a
Royal Air Force communique said
bomb hits set aflre an Italian vessel
and damaged other shipping in the
harbor at Tobruk, Libya, where Italy
supplies her forces.
British bombers, directed to their
objectives by accommodating French
pilots, also roared through heavy
anti-aircraft fire to shower bombs
on Italian positions near Hargeisa,
British Somaliland, where the
Italians were reported making prog
ress through the mountain passes
toward the coast.
cThe Italians reported today
their troops had driven to a point
beyond Aduiens, east of Hargeisa
and IN the Karin Pass area,
The Italians said their bombers
raided Berbera itself, damaging a
ship IN the harbor and setting
fire to two grounded British
planes.)
Massaua Bombed.
Another formation of British
bombers raided Massaua, Eritrea,
and reported direct hits on gun en-
placements and several buildings in
that Red Sea port.
Still another attack was made on
the Italian airdrome at Negheln,
Abyssinia, where two Italian Ca
proni bombers on the ground were
said to have been destroyed.
In the attacks on Italian troops
driving across British Somaliland,
the British reported countless bombs
rained on Italian anti-aircrafe posi-
tions and troop columns in the Kar-
rim Pass area. just east of Hargeisa.
The British said all their planes
returned.
Karin Pass is midway between
Hargeisa and Oadweina, towns
about 80 miles apart, which the
Italians captured last week In their
drive toward Berbera, the capital on
the Gulf of Alden. The pass is 10
miles south of Berbera.
Egypt Checks Defenses.
Egypt warned her people against
the mushrooming war of nerves al
ready being fought and simultan-
eously checked all defenses against
the major military push the Ital-
ians are expected to launch from
Libya.
Ready for active alignment with
Br1tain's outnumbered African
forces the moment she is attacked.
Egypt's regular army was ready to
swing into action; anti-afrcraft and
coastal batteries were fully manned
and special police stood on guard
against Italian attempts to land
parachute troops Nazi-style.
While italian troops in British
Somaliland were reported moving on
toward Berbera, this was regarded
as smoke screen" to draw atten-
tion from the main attack massing
to the west.
Desert Section Quiet.
Latest British reports from the
Egyptian-Libyan desert said, "Au
areas very quiet" Marshal Rodolfo
Graziani, Italy's North African
commander in chief, apparently was
concentrating his efforts on perfect
ing a supply system for his army.
Ihe problem facing the Italians
was said to be that when Graziani
moves, AL his Libyan resources
must move with him.
Military observers pointed out that
water, food. gasoline and munitions
would have to be kept on the move
(see CAIRO, Page A-6.)