SEVERE BLOW

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20858, 10 August 1942, Page 3

SEVERE BLOW

SUPPLIESJDR AXIS EGYPTIAN FRONT 20 LIGHTERS SUNK LITTLE LAND ACTIVITY (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Noon.) LONDON, Aug. 9. A severe blow has been dealt to Axis supplies by the destruction of over 20 enemy power lighters off the North African coast in the past three weeks. This is equivalent at least to the loss of 1500 three-ton loaded lorries, says the Royal Air Force Middle East news service.

Naval aircraft, Royal Australian Air Force light bombers, and Royal Air Force long-range fighters joined- in these operations. In addition, several thousand tons of supplies were sent to the bottom. Numerous lighters have been destroyed, set on fire, or left riddled with cannon shells and machine-gun bullets. Many of the lighters carried their own guns and were protected by flak ships and fighters. Despite this, the toll taken is rising daily, with the peak on Friday, when five vessels were accounted for in 12 hours. • On the same, night, naval aircraft attacking Mersa Matruh' destroyed a further lighter, while at dawn yesterday Australian - aircraft sank another. The lighters are mostly between 100 ft. and 200 ft. in length. R.A.F. Fighters Active

The Royal Air Force news service also reports that British fighters were in action over the Alamein front on Saturday, when enemy air activity was on an increased scale. Tobruk harbour was again our chief bomber target on Friday night. Fires were seen to break out in the jetty area and bomb-bursts were seen among shipping along the waterfront. From all operations, including those over Malta, five of our aircraft are missing, but one pilot is believed to be safe. Details are now available of the attack on Tobruk on Thursday evening. Heavy bombers scored a direct hit on a 10,000-ton enemy merchant vessel which was moving in the centre of the harbour. The raid was continued by a strong formation of bombers during the night. Thick cloud obscured observation of the results, but fires were started on the south side of the harbour. The same night naval aircraft again raided objectives at Mersa Matruh. Patrols Over Whole Front A Cairo communique states that during Thursday night our patrols were active over the whole front and in the northern and central sectors our guns shelled enemy positions. Artillery exchanges continued on Friday in the central sector. A ME 109 was shot down in fighter combat. Our. light bombers and long-range fighters carried out a, successful attack on escorted enemy shipping off Sidi Barrani. Some vessels were sunk and others damaged. There was little air activity over Malta. It is reliably stated that between 150,000 and 180,000 Italian and German mechanised troops in Greece are waiting to go to Africa, but are held up in case of a second front in Europe. Two hundred German transport planes are daily carrying ice water and vegetables to the Germans in North Africa, whence .they are bringing back wounded. The Rome radio says: “We foresee an attack by General Auchinleck soon. Several British advance units have been withdrawn from the Alamein sector and are being regrouped.”