SIMULTANEOUS RAIDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 196, 21 July 1941, Page 4

SIMULTANEOUS RAIDS.

ENEAIY HARASSED AT TOBRUK. RUGBY, July 19. A successful raid by the defenders of Tobruk against the surrounding Axis forces is mentioned in to-day’s Middle East communique, which states that during the early hours of Friday three simultaneous raids were carried out on a broad front against enemy positions facing the western perimeter of Tobruk. So successful was this large-scale patrol activity that for nearly three hours the enemy put down an extensive artillery barrage along the whole face of our perimeter. Wc suffered little loss, but serious casualties were inflicted on the enemy. Two gnus were destroyed an*l a number of prisoners taken. Throughout the operation the British and Indian troops which were engaged showed admirable initiative and determination. These continuous and deep penetrations by, our patrols are evidently exercising a serious effect on the morale of the Axis forces holding positions outside our perimeter. In the frontier area patrol activity is continuing. Yesterday an enemy armoured fighting patrol was engaged and put to flight. The Moscow radio quotes the Turkish newspaper Tan as saying that General Rommel together with his Africa Panzer Corps has moved from Libya to the Bulgarian-Turkish frontier. The Sunday Dispatch believes it is significant that recent Cairo communiques have not mentioned brushes with Germans.

Wirespread attacks were carried out yesterday and last night without the loss of a single plane, according to a Royal Air Force Aliddle East, com-! munique, which states that R.A.F. lighters engaged two Junkers SS's which dropped bombs on Cyprus. One enemy aircraft was shot down, over the sea.

Heavy bombers carried out another successful attack on Sicily on Thursday night, the target being enemy cruisers and destroyers in Palcrnlo harbour. Bombs were dropped on or near enemy warships, but the full results could not be observed owing' to smoke. Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm bombed the aerodromes of Gerbini and Augusta on the island of Sicily. In Cyrcnaica night attacks were carried out on the port of Derna and at Bardia. Direct hits were made on the mole at Derna and a number of fires started. One very large fire was followed by a vivid explosion which lit up the interior of the bomber throe miles away. From these operations all our aircraft returned safely.—Official Wireless.