Evening star., 1940-07-05
Italy Reports Taking
Kassa||a, Strategic
Post in Sudan
Planes Muchine-Gun
Attack on AirfieId at
HoItur Also Is Disclosed
By the Associated Press.

HoItor Also Is Disclosed
BY the Associated Press.
ROME, July 5.-The capture Of
Kassalla. an important post in the
Anglo-E Egyptian Sudan, was reported
today by the Italian high command.
italian authorities said occupation
of the post was extremely important
from strategic, economic and po-
litical viewpoints.
Italy has claimed KaSsalla was
taken from her in the delimitation
of the borders between Sudan and
East Africa in 1891.
The Italians occupied Kassalla in
a move to protect Eritrea during the
revolt of the Sudanese dervishes in
1894. 1t was ceded to Anglo-Egyptian
Sudan by treaty in 1907.
Kassalla is an important center of
caravan routes and railway lines. 1t
IS the site of military cemetery
where Italian soldiers who died in
defending Kassalla in the Sudanese
war are buried.
Haltar Airfield Attacked.
The Italian high command an
nounced that a formation of Italian
fighting planes carried out bril-
liant machine-gun attack on the air
field of Haltar, Malta" and put out
OF action eight planes at the British
Mediterranean naval base.
The high command said another
formation effectively bombed"
British ships near the Bay of Alex
andria, Egypt, and scored several
hits.
Authoritative italian sources called
the British action against Frances
fleet brutal and cynical act"
Reports abroad that Italian ships
had helped the French were dis
credited in these quarters. (Although
British Prime Minister Churchill
declared the Italian navy had kept
prudently out of the way" advices
to Geneva yesterday said Italian
Warships were en- route to the scene
of the British-French battle off
Oran, Algeria)
If the Italian fleet met British
ships in the Mediterranean they
would fight them, one informant
said.
Italian Cabinet to Meet.
The Italian cabinet will meet
with Premier Mussolini at 10 am.
tomorrow a am. E. E. T), it was
announced.
The Rome radio said it was be-
lleved the meeting would be of
great Importance as it would be the
first session of the cabinet since
1taly's declaration of war in June.
The cabinet was expected to deal
mainly with adapting Italy's trade,
industry and administrative ma
chinery to war requirements.
The text of the high commands
communique follows:
"One of our fighter formations,
overcoming adverse atmospheric
conditions and strong anti-aircraft
reaction, carried out a brilliant
machine-gun attack on the airfield
of Halfar, Malta, putting out of
action eight planes resting there.
"All of our aircraft returned.
"Another formation effectively
bombed English ships near Alexan-
dria Bay, hitting several of them
despite their violent aerial and
anti-aircraft reaction. All our
planes returned to the bases from
which they took off.
British Cruiser Attacked.
"One of our naval reconnaissance
planes attacked a British cruiser
and shot down in combat a fighter
plane which attempted to oppose
the action.
"On the Cyrenaican frontier en-
counters favorable to us took place
near Musaid An English four
motored plane was shot down in
combat.
I'm East Africa our troops, hav-
ing repulsed an attack on Metemma,
dashed to counter attack, occupy
ing the fortified position of Gallaoat
In Anglo-Egyptian Sudan territory.
Farther north, after enemy re-
bistance was overcome, Kassalla was
occupied. Details of this brilliant
action will be announced in a later
bulletin.
also in the Sudan territory, va
rious enemy positions were very
effectively h0rhed without opv 1occ
to us. An English plane reconnoit-
ering over Massaua was shot down
by our fighters.
"It is confirmed by neutral sources
that in action of our aircraft against
an enemy convoy in the Eastern
Mediterranean announced in Bull
letin No. % an English war YES
sci was hit directly by one of our
bombs"