AFRICAN OPERATIONS

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1941, Page 3

AFRICAN OPERATIONS

By British Forces LAus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.J LONDON, July 18. Australian patrols are keeping the enemy on his toes in the Western Desert. f-'or the third successive night patrols negotiated the barbea wire and advanced towards El Adem. Alter attacking enemy posts they returned as silently as they left. Tne purpose of these raids is primarily identification, but the effect on the enemy moraie has become most apparent. Tne Rome radio stated that Italian and German soldiers who picked up what appeared to be tins of jam in the desert around Tobruk, were seriously injured, as the tins ' contained explosives. A Cairo communique states: In Libya, on the night of July 16/11, another of our patrols made deep penetration into enemy positions south of Tobruk. Casualties were again inflicted on the enemy, whose nerves are evidently becoming frayeu. as he is now resorting to me me of searchlights for ground ooservation at night. In tne frontier area, our patrols yesterday engaged enemy armoured cars, winch neat a rapid retreat. 'there is nothing of importance to report in Abyssinia. tne movement of British and In-1 dian troops to occupy strategic points in the northern area is continuing. An R.A.E. Middle East communique states: R.A.E. heavy bombers I carried out heavy attacks on the, harbours of Benghazi, Tripoli and! other enemy positions during the i nights of July lb/16/17. At Tripoli, > many hits were observed on tne. Spanish quay, and were followed by l a number of explosions, one ot which was believed to be an enemy I merchant vessel. j

tn a later raid, by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm. one 6.000 ton tanker was torpedoed’ amidships, and Became enveloped in blacit smoke, and a violent explosion occurred after several bombs had hit the Spanish mole.

At Benghazi, several tons of bombs were dropped on the quays, coal store, railway workshops ana sheds. Successful results were also obtained at Derna. where bombs were seen to drop on the port near the post and telegraph omce, barracks, electric power stations, and military transport garages and repair snops. A nuinoer of explosions and fires followed an attach, and huts and tents were set on lire at Barcua.

A large formation of Macchi zUO’s, which new over Malta yesterday morning, was intercepted by our lighters. Two oi them were snot uown, while a number of others were damaged. Two of our aircrait are missing. British naval forces in the Mediterranean nave been greatly strengthened by the arrival of a number of “pocxet destroyers,” after an arduous journey xrom Kiigianu. These crait are the new high speed motor launcnes. They carry aepui cnarges, and are primarily designed xor anti-submarine warfare. xney also carry guns to defend tnemselves against aircraft attack. The vessels arrived after a stormy passage which was not relished by tne crews, including Canadians ana Australians. At times me launcnes heeied over to an angle of oO degrees. An Admiralty communique states: Our submarines m the Mediterranean achieved iurtner successes against the enemy’s sea communications. A- suppiy-snip which was escorted by Hanan destroyers and aircrait. has been nit by torpedoes and prouably sunk. A convoy consisting oi one schooner and three large caiques, ail of which were carrying German troops, petrol and ammunition, has been intercepted, and all loux' ships sunk. In addition to this convoy, one schooner and two large caiques, carrying German troops ana military stores, have been sunk. Both the schooners and the live caiques were Hying the German nag. Iniormation nas been received in London from Cairo that the oniciai ngures for the lirst six months ox tne year show that tne general health oi the British, Imperial, and Allied forces in the Middle Hast is remarkably good. According to an Army medical authority the health of the troops is as good as in peace time, and mere nas not been a single case of typhus. According to this authority the fact that the men s heaim ,s so good may be attributed to tne great improvements in hygiene ana tne extra' interest taken in thenhealth by all ranks.

Patrol Successes BY TOBRUK DEFENDERS. 8.0.W. RUGBY, July w.). A successful raid ov Uie deienders of Tobruk against the surrounding Axis forces, is menitoned m to-day s Middle East communique, wli.cn states: During the early ii.ov.rs of Friday, three simultaneous . mas were carried out on a broad i.oni against enemy positions, fae.ng the western perimeter of Tobruks defences. So successful was this la/gescale patrol activity that for near?, three hours the enemy put down an extensive artillery barrage along th-"’ whoie face of our perimeter. Wt : little loss to ourselves, serious c. unities were inflicted on trie enemy. Two 'gms were destroyed. Prisoner • were taken throughout trie opem.t ci> British and Indian troops, wh ch,' r; those engaged, showed admirable nand determination, demonstrating the highest degree of i.nininrf and physical fitness. These continuous and deep penetrat’ons by our patrols are evidently exercising a serious effect on the morale ot tee Axis forces that are holding the pom tions outside of our per.meter. Ithe frontier areg natrol activity- w; s continuing on Friday An cnemv armoured fiuht!n ,r natrol was engaged and nut to flight. There is n: change in Abyssinia R.A.F. RAIDS BARDIA. (Rec. 7.30). RUGBY, July 10. A Middle East R.A.F. communique shows that widespread attacks were carried out on Friday and oatu relay nights without loss of a single plane. It states: In Cyrenaica. night attacks were carried out on Port Derna anti at Bardia direct hits were made on the mole at Derna. A number ol fires were started. A very large lire was followed by a vivid explosion, which lit up the interior ol a bomber three miles away. From these operations all our aircralt returned safely. R.A.F. RAIDS SICILY. ' RUGBY, July 19. Heavy bombers carried out a successful attack on the island of Sicily during Thursday night, the target being enemy cruisers and destroyers in Palermo Harbour. Bombs were dropped on or near enemy warships, but full results could not be observed owing to smoke. Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm bombed aerodromes in Gerbini and

Augusta, and also on the island of Sicily. JUNKERS ATTACKED OVER CYPRUS. LONDON. July 19. A Middle East communique states: R.A.F. lighters engaged two Junkers 88’s. The latter dropped bombs on the island of Cyprus. One enemy aircraft was shot down over the sea. RAID ON ALEXANDRIA. RUGBY, July 19. It is officially stated in Cairo that there was an air-raid made on Alexandria on Saturday morning. A few bombs we’re dropped on. the place. One person was Killed. Eleven were injured. Slight damage was caused. . OCCUPATION OF SYRIA. LONDON, July 19. A Middle East communique states: In Syria, all is quiet. The occupying of strategical points in the normexh area by Britisn and Indian troops is progressing without incident.