EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1942, Page 5

EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN

LAND LULL CONTINUED

LONDON, August 11

To-day’s Cairo communique says: “Patrol activity continued on Sunday night in all sectors. Yesterday there was nothing to report from our land forces. Fighter-bombers and fighters were active over the battle area yesterday, but the enemy’s air effort was on a reduced scale. The principal air attacks were on enemy transport vehicles and supply concentrations. Shipping was successfully attacked off the North African coast. One enemy lighter was sunk and another damaged. Over Malta three Messerschmitts were shot down by our fighters.” , „ , Though the lull in the land fighting in Egypt continues, increased artillery activity points to a renewal of large-scale action. The air war has livened up. Marshal Rommel has thrown in fresh fighter reinforcements and the Royal Air Force has countered with a non-stop day and night offensive against advanced Axis aerodromes. American armoured units assigned to various-British reserve regiments are ready to go in when the gong sounds for the next round. . „ The Cairo correspondent of the “Daily Express” says: “Marshal Rommel has been using the period of watchful waiting to strengthen his defences and acclimatise his reinforcements. The Afrika Korps is particularly short of infantry. Ihe Italians are being reinforced with convicts reprieved on condition that they fight in Africa.” „ „ General de Gaulle, leader or the Fighting French, reviewed the Fighting French force at its desert headquarters and decorated officers and men who held up Marshal Rommel’s push at Bir Hacheim. The march past was most impressive. It included tanks and armoured cars. . It is now learned that LieutenantGeneral W. H. E. Gott, reported yesterday as killed in action, was killed while he was returning to Cairo from the Western Desert.