THRUSTS FROM TOBRUK

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 258, 28 July 1941, Page 7

THRUSTS FROM TOBRUK

Harassing Enemy In Libya (British Official Wireless.) (Received July 27, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, July 26. A. communique from the general headquarters in Cairo states: _ lu Libya on the night of July 24-25 our patrols from Tobruk were again active ' One patrol, supported by mortar fire, inflicted considerable casualties on the enemy, who demonstrated- their general uneasiness by putting down a heavy barrage with artillery, mortars and machine-guns on two occasions each for two hours for no apparent reason. “On other fronts all is quiet.” Au earlier communique stated that during the night of July 23-24 a number of fighting patrols from Tobruk penetrated the enemy positions. One of these patrols advanced to a depth of more than three miles and engaged an enemy strong-point with hand grenades, inflicting a number of casualties before it withdrew. In the frontier area mechanized patrols again drove back enemy elements from points of observation. Yesterday’s air communique stated that on July 23 R.A.F. bombers carried out a successful attack on enemy shipping at Trapani, Sicily. One merchant vessel, which was hit by high-explosive and incendiary bombs, became enveloped in flames and smoke, and another 3000-ton ship, which received two direct hits, is believed to have been sunk. The formation then raided an enemy aerodrome between Trapani and Marsala and destroyed three S79’s on the ground and damaged several others. On January 23 an E-boat which approached one of our convoys in the Mediterranean was attacked by R.A.F. fighters and left sinking, and yesterday fighters also attacked and destroyed two Ju 87’s in the same area. , t . It is also announced that Benghazi harbour was heavily bombed on the night of July 23-24 and again on the following night.

CYPRUS GARRISON

Alert But Less Tense

NICOSIA (Cyprus), July 25.

One of the least publicized tasks of the Australian troops in recent months has been that carried out in Cyprus, writes an Australian war correspondent. , During the whole of this, critical period they supplemented British troop formations garrisoning the island and provided part of its defences. The British occupation of Syria has greatly strengthened the position in Cyprus, but the first few weeks after the fall of Crete were a trying time for the garrison. Cyprus is probably au easier proposition for an airborne invasion than Crete, owing to the terrain. Thy Australians, who left Egypt early in May, were ready for a call within a few hours of landing. After weeks of tension, during which some German bombing raids were carried out, news of the Russo-German war lifted the pressure. Though the British and Australian troops here have not slackened their alertness, there is a feeling that the time of crisis lias passed.