EGYPTIAN FRONT

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23750, 23 September 1942, Page 3

EGYPTIAN FRONT

ACTIVITY ON SMALL SCALE

ENEMY AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Sept, 22. To-day’s Cairo communique states: “On Sunday night patrol activity continued. Yesterday land operations were confined to artillery exchanges. “Air operations were on a reduced scale yesterday. One Messerschmitt 109 was shot down in a minor engagement.” Simultaneous attacks on enemy targets behind the enemy lines were made last night by light, bombers of the South African Air Force and Royal Air Force, states a message from Cairo. The South Africans attacked the enemy airfield at El Daba and one large and three small fires were started, with one big explosion. Medium bombers of the Royal Air Force attacked Tobruk, but low-lying clouds made observation of the results difficult. Solium, the barracks at Mersa Matruh, and the road west of El Daba were also attacked. Fighter-bombers were active over the battle area on Monday, states a message from Cairo, and in a running fight one Messerschmitt was shot down and others were severely damaged. An enemy petrol bowser and four tanks were attacked by a pilot, who shot down the Messerschmitt, the bowser being left in flames. The enemy sent a high-flying fighter sween over Malta on Monday. Royal Air Force fighters went up to intercept and most of the hostile aircraft were turned back before reaching the island.

EXECUTIONS IN EUROPE

MORE THAN 200,000 VICTIMS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, Sept. 21. The recent shooting of 116 Frenchmen on General von Stuelpnagells orders brings the total number of executions in occupied Europe to 207,373. This figure was compiled by the Iptcr-Allied Information Committee and it covers executions following trials or court-martials, the shooting of hostages, and executions announced by the Germans. The figures have been obtained from governments in London, which have confirmed them, and in most cases they have the names of the victims.

The figures include 130 Belgians, 1765 Czechs shot since the attack on Heydrich, including 525 who were held directly responsible for his death (in addition thousands have died in concentration camps or as a result of the Gestapo “third decree”). 1500 Frenchmen shot or sentenced.to death in the first half of 1942, and also 250 hostages shot. In Crete alone 3000 have been killed since May, 1941. Several thousands have been executed in Macedonia by the Bulgarians, while it is known that executions in Norway total 106, and in Holland 200. More than 5000 Jugoslavs were executed' by the Germans in two months last year, and Hungarians and the Ustachi executed many more. The Polish Government in London says that 200,000 people have been killed since the Germans overran the country, including 100,000 who were shot after trial according 'to German law. Seventy thousand hostages were shot, and 30,000 died in concentration camps. (These 30.000 apparently are not included in the total of 207,373 verified executions.)

HEALTH PROBLEM IN EUROPE

EFFECT OF WAR (Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 21. The American Associated Press says trustworthy advices indicate that war conditions have created an alarmingly bad health situation in Europe, threatening a calamity worse than the fighting. Shortage of doctors, equipment, and medicines, together with the strain of war and diet deficiencies, and also disease-infected and vermin-infested soldiers from the battlefields, are creating a very serious problem for Germany. Medical circles are alarmed at the increasing number of cases of dysentery, which has reached epidemic proportions, and aka of tuberculosis, physical exhaustion, and spotted typhus. Surgeons prefer to amputate seriouslyinjured legs rather than risk infection from poor bandages and limited disinfectants. Stomach wounds at the front are nearly all fatal, and kidney wounds 87 per cent, fatal. The death rate is tremendous, and is likely to increas. this winter, because of the effects of overwork, poor food, cold houses, and bombing among a population whose resistance has been steadily lowered.

SHIPS SUNK IN ATLANTIC

NEW YORK, Sept. 21. The Associated Press of America says that sinkings of Allied ships in the western Atlantic, excluding the northern Atlantic, now total 471 since December 12. The United States Navy Department has announced the loss of one American and one British merchantman in the North Atlantic. There were only 10 survivors from the British ship. Twenty-seven were killed and 16 died of extreme cold during four days in a lifeboat.

A Lisbon message says that an aeroplane escorting a British ship which was torpedoed off the southern coast of Portugal, sank the U-boat which made the attack. Thirty survivors from the ship were landed at Setubal. A Portuguese destroyer is searching for other survivors. A submarine of unknown nationality sank a Portuguese trawler off the coast of Portugal. A fishing boat saved the crew. Another Portuguese trawler entered (he Duero river after being chased by a submarine.

U.S. Air Successes in China.—The achievements of the United States air force in China are surveyed in a report covering the activities of the force during July and August. In the two months American pilots shot down 28 Japanese aircraft, destroyed at least another 30 on the ground, and probably damaged at least six more. In the period. 23 bombing raids were made, in which no bombers were lost. Five American fighters failed to return.—London, September 21.