NORTH AFRICA

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1941, Page 8

NORTH AFRICA

RUGBY, October 10. / n R.A.F. Middle East communique states: During the night of October 8/9 naval aircraft successfully attacked a 600 C ton enemy merchantman. Two direct hits with torpeaoes were obtained, and the vessel sank within 10 minutes. On the same night, an R.A.F. bomber made a low-level attack on another merchantman of similar size. One bomb blew off parts of the foredeck and hatch cover, and the ship was left in a badly damaged condition. The Comisso aerodrome was attacked and damage done to hangars. Buildings were .also set on lire at Berka, as the result of a sustained attack by heavy R.A.F. bombers. Our fighters were active over the Libyan frontier area yesterday, but had no decisive engagements with the enemy. Numerous reconnaissances were carried cut. Two of our planes are missing. It is authoritatively stated in London that at Tobruk on October IT about 50 enemy aircraft in two waves, attacked a British field and medium and light anti-aircraft gun sites. No damage is reported, and one Stuka is reported to have been badly hit and three others damaged. Enemy artillery attacked the harbour without causing damage. In the Mersa Matruh area, on the night of October 7/8, two enemy aircraft dropped bombs outside the mess, causing no damage. A Middle East Headquarters communique states: . In Libya during 1 Wednesday night, the enemy again employed tanks in the area outside the defences of Tobruk without seriously hampering our patrols. In the south-west sector, one of our patrols captured a machine-gun and other material. Active patrolling continues in the frontier area. More successes against Axis shipping in the Mediterranean are announced. A Royal. Av Force communique says that on Wednesday night a merchantman in Tripoli harbour was left blazing fiercely. Several lighters were destroyed Two bombs i burst on a merchant’ vessel west of, Tripoli, and the crew took to tne I boats. Two German aeroplanes try- | ing to raid the Suez Canal area on Wednesday night were shot down.

NORTH AFRICA RAIDS. SUCCESSFUL SERIES. LONDON. October 10. During the night of Friday, two German aircraft attempted to raid th e Canal Zone. Both were brought down, and the crews were captured. A Royal Air Force communique from the Middle East states that on Wednesday naval aircraft successfully attacked a 6000-ton enemy merchantman. Two direct hits with torpedoes were obtained, and the vessel sank in ten minutes. The same night a Royal Air Force bomber made a low-level attack on another merchantman' of similar size. One bomb blew off parts of the foredeck and hatch cover, and left the ship in a badly damaged condition. The Comiso aerodrome was attacked and damgae done to hangars- and build, ings were also set on fire at Berka as a result of a sustained attack by heavy Royal Air Force bombers. Our fighters were active over the Libyan frontier area yesterday, but had no decisive engagements with the enemy. Numerous reconnaissances were carried out. Two of our machines are missing. Royal Air Force bombers dropped many bombs on Tripoli harbour on iie night of October 7-8 One merchant vessel was repeatedly hit and set on fire. It was burning fiercely when the last of our aircraft left th fi target. The Spanish Quay and a seaplane base also suffered di-

rect hits, and some lighters moored to the quay were destroyed. One merchant vessel, some miles west of Tripoli, was attacked in the moonlight. Two hits were observed and subsequent explosions occurred. The ship was also machine-gunned and was left with, its stern under water, the crew pulling away in the boats. Motor transport on the road between Misurate and Sirte was attacked during the day and manv lorries were destroyed, severely damaged, and forced off the road. One large petrol tanker blew up. On the night of October 7-8, naval aircraft carried i out a dive-bombinp- attack on the north and south landing grounds at Gazala. Explosions and fires occurred and a number of enemy aircraft dispersed on the ground were severely damaged. From al! these operations one of our aircrarft is missing. ENEMY ACTIVITY. INCREASES IN WESTERN DESERT. (Rec. 12.30). RUGBY. October 11. In North Africa on Wednesday night, enemy aircraft dropped approximately two hundred anti-per-sonnel bombs. No damage or casualties are reported. One -of the British fighting patrols attempted to assault-an enemy working party, which had been previously located by another patrol, but found' the position was strongly held, and withdrew, after drawing heavv fire from the enemy. The British sustained no casualties. ■ On Thursday enemy aircraft bombed a gun nosition ten miles south of Tobruk, but there were no casualties. There has also been considerable enemy shelling in that area. In thg frontier area on Thursday there was normal patrol activity. Enemy aircraft machine-gunned British troops 17 miles north of Hadalina.

FURTHER TOBRUK FIGHTING. 8.0.W. RUGBY. October 11. Saturday’s Middle East war comI munique states: During Thursday I night the enemy deoloyed even, a | larger number .of tanks in areas outside of the perimeter defences of Tobruk. After putting: up a stout resistance, a small post, manned by nine British soldiers, was overpowered, and onlv two of our men managed to withdraw. Subsequently, enemy tanks were surprised and engaged bv our own tanks at close range. After renewing many direct hits, enemy tanks withdrew but owing to darkness, prolonged pursuit by our forces was rendered impossible. Following this action the situation remained quiet throughout yesterday. • In the frontier area there has been increased activity both by our patrols and by our artillery. Poles in Tobruk (Rec. 8.30). LONDON, October 11. Polish artillery and infantry now are among the defenders of Tobruk. The Polish men and equipment were landed there unmolested unde>- PT tection of the Navy. The majortiy of these Poles participated in the war in Poland. They now. are fully trained for desert warfare. R.A.F ATTACK IN' FRENCH SOMALILAND. 8.0.W. RUGBY. October 11. The latest information from Africa records the destruction of an Italian Savoia aircraft on the ground at Jibouti aerodrome in_French Somaliland bv a British machine, thus showing that the British are carry-1 ing out the intention of ‘attacking the enemy wherever they find him.’