Reports From Enemy Sources

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 256, 29 October 1942, Page 5

Reports From Enemy Sources

A German communique says: The Egyptian battle is cqntinuing with tindiminished violence. The British yesterday threw in fresh forces and tried vainly to break through the Italian and Germans positions. The Italians and Germans destroyed 111 tanks and 38 armoured cars. Italian and German planes increasingly attacked British rear communications and shot down 14 Allied machines over the battle area and the Mediterranean.

An Italian communique repeats the German one, but claims that in all 22 Allied planes were shot down. It says one Italian submarine failed to return to its base and one enemy submarine was sunk.

The German News Agency says the Eighth Army brought up reserves and extended its offensive to the central sector, but nowhere gained a. decisive advantage. The British attempted to turn our position from the Qattara Depression and lost several tanks. The Volkischer Bcobacliter declared the Allied offensive is being carried out with extraordinarily strong forces. “It need hardly be emphasised,'' says the paper, “the Axis forces have to face the hardest demands. It is obvious that the enemy has concentrated his war effort in North Africa.” The Berlin radio reported that British troops from east of Mersa Matruh early to-day attempted a landing in speedboats behind positions at El Alamein, but Italian bombers caused a withdrawal. A radio despatch from El Alamein states that Axis tanks supported by infantry, engaged British tanks in bitter fighting. The battle continued all Btinday night and Monday morning and even increased in violence. * * Although the battle is not yet over, we are in a position to state that the Italian and German forces stood up to the powerful attacks unleashed by the enemy. ’'

Arthur James Birley, of Mosgiel. owner ot the East Taieri Collieries Mine, was electrocuted yesterday while installing an electric pump at the mine.

The opinion that the Medical Advertisements Act fell short of the requirements of British Justice in that It did not give the right of appeal to persons or firms which might be affected by Its provisions, was expressed at a meeting of Dunedin manufacturing chemists. It was decided to ask the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation to place the views I ” “ 3e kroup before the Government. I