BITTER FIGHTING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 192, 16 July 1941, Page 7

BITTER FIGHTING

ENCOUNTERS IN DESERT.

SURPRISE EOR ENEMY. (United Press Association—Copvright) (Rec. 12 noon) RUGBY, July 15. A Middle East communique says Unit in Libya, offensive patrols from our forces at Tobruk have been active.

In a recent hand-to-hand encounter we captured ririsoners and inflicted many casualties on tiie enemy, who were surprised in their positions. So successful was one of these raids that ii wa» incorrectly described in an encm y communique as a serious attempt to break out of Tobruk.

There is no change in Abyssinia. The Home News Agency says: "The British in the Solium sector, early on Sunday, tried to surpiso our advanced detachments with tanks supported by artillery. Our detachments immediately toiled the attempt and not even allowed the enemy to approach our first lino.

"The enemy in the Tobruk area on Sunday night launched a violent attack on our positions with several eral hundred men armed, with automatic weapons and anti-tank guns. Our troops withstood the attack and repulsed the enemy." The R.A.F. Middle East communique says: "Bomber aircraft of the R.A.F. yesterday carried out an attack on the aerodrome at Zuara, fn Tripolitania. Bombs were seen to hit the aerodrome buildings and a number of enemy transport aircraft on the ground were damaged by machinegun tire. One Junkers 52 was set on fire.

During the night of July 13-14 heavy bombers raided Bardia and Benghazi, causing a number of explosions and fires. A Junkers 88 and a Savoia 79 were shot clown by our aircraft in the Western Desert during recent operations. Our fighters attacked and severely damaged a Savoia 70 which approached the Syrian coast yesterday. The enemy aircraft was last seen out at sea emitting clouds of black smoke and appeared unlikely to reach its base. All ours returned safely.—Official Wireless.