The R.A.F. communique said British planes bombed Benghazi heavily oh Wednesday night, facilitating capture of the town. The communique also reported that British bombers simultaneously strafed the aero~ drome at Benina and raided Berka, Jedabya, Cheren and Assab.
The South African Air Force, the communique said, shot down two Italian fighters near Asmara and destroyed three at an aerodrome at Bahrdar—United Press, spokesman stated today.
It is not believed here that the Italians intended to defend Benghazi The spectre of resistance before Demo was probably intended to give Italian troops time to escape.
News from Benghazi is still scanty. and it is not yet known how many men remained of the Italian divisions recently encamped around the town.
The capture of Berghazi not only ends 30 years' Italian domination in Cyrenaica. but also erects a barrier of 300 to 400 miles of almost waterless country against an attack on Egypt from Tripoli.
Interest here is already beginning to shift to Abyssinia, which with the fall of Benghazi now has been de prived of all communication with Italy, Important operations are now proceeding on this front. Italian troops again are showing little stomach for battle, and are surrendering in large numbers.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.