EGYPTIAN FRONT

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23743, 15 September 1942, Page 5

EGYPTIAN FRONT

AIR BATTLES OVER DESERT PATROL ACTIVITY BY LAND FORCES (Bee. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 14. To-day’s Cairo communique states: "On Saturday night our patrols contacted enemy patrols and working parties in the northern and central sectors, and engaged and harassed them. In the southern sector there were artillery exchanges.” There were four minor air engagements over the battle area, and at least! six enemy aircraft were shot down or damaged. Both rides are preparing, for the coming clash. Though the front has returned to a state of patrol activity, the forward areas are anything but static, and there is intense activity behind the lines. Good campaigning weather is now likely. Fighting in the height of the clouds and using them-as cover or as ambush, just as a jungle fighter would use trees, Allied pilots on Saturday smashed up a large enemy formation of Stuka dive-bombers escorted by Messerschmitt 109’s. The combat, which was over the battle area In Egypt, was at such a pace and vision was so obscured by clouds that most of the pilots were unable to see what happened to epemy aircraft they attacked. When they came home they claimed one enemy aircraft as definitely destroyed. Then a telephone call was received from the only pilot who was shot down. He had • crash-landed safely among Allied troops, and reported that not one, but five enemy aircraft lay in pieces on the ground. He nad walked round and counted them. U.S. MISSION IN MIDDLE EAST YEAR’S WORK ENDED LONDON, Sept. 13. Yesterday was the first anniversary of the arrival in the Middle East of the United States Military Mission. Its chief, Major-General Maxwell, has received a message of congratulation from President Roosevelt to mark the event, and at a special ceremony, British and American decorations were presented at American Headquarters. General Sir Harold Alexander presented British decorations to Americans, and 17 members of the United States Army Air Force and two members of the Royal Air Force received American decorations for "extraordinary bravery.” Major-General L, H. Brereton. United States Army Air Forces Chief in the Middle East, made the presentations to the Air Force men. Among the recipients were an Australian who is a member of the Royal Air Force, and another Royal Air Force man. Behind the decorations lies a story of great courage. One morning a United States four-engined bomber crashed into a building on the edge of an aerodrome and caught fire. The petrol tanks exploded and machinegun bullets began to go off in the flames. Eight, members of the aeroplane’s crew and several persons in the building were left struggling in a sea of flames. Those decorated showed a complete disregard for their own safety in entering the burning area and bringing out the injured. NEW ETHIOPIAN ARMY (8.0. W.) RUGBY, Sept. 13. A handful of British officers and non-commisgioned officers —one twelfth of the normal strength allotted to British African units—under MajorGeneral S. & Butler and the British Military Mission, is building a modern Ethiopian Army, starting from scratch. The Ethiopian Arrny now comprises an infantry and artillery field company, engineers, and field works companies. A signals, ordnance and supply, and armoured car regiment are in process of formation. GIFT OF CRUISER TO AUSTRALIA CRec. 11.30 p.m.) CANBERRA. Sept. 14, The cruiser Shropshire is to be renamed Canberra. The King’s approval has been given to the gift of the ship to Australia to replace H.M.A.S. Canberra, which was recently sunk in the Solomon Islands battle.