ROMMEL WORRIED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24346, 7 August 1942, Page 3

ROMMEL WORRIED

BRITISH AIR ATTACKS SUPERIORITY ADMITTED DEADLY ANTI-TANK GUN (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 5 A despatch from El Alamein published in a Berlin newspaper says the Royal Air Force offensive is worrying the Axis forces. "The British are largely superior in the air," the despatch says. "They are attacking us with fighter-bombers protected by fighters, even in the daytime." Britain's new six-pounder anti-tank guns in the Western Desert have in two months' fighting knocked out 62 Axis tanks. These six-pounders are described - as the Bth Army's deadliest weapon and can smash tanks a mile away. One penetrated the double thickness of Germany's biggest tanks at 1000 yards' range. The commanding officer said the six-pounders are far superior to their German equivalent, the 50-milimetre. Offensive Patrols A Cairo General Headquarters communique states that patrols last night were active in all sectors and artillery exchanges occurred yesterday in the northern and central sectors. Air activity increased over the battle area. Our light bombers and fighterbombers attacked enemy vehicles and concentrations in the central sector. Our fighters maintained offensive patrols, two Messerschmitt 109's being shot down. ■ Light enemy shipping, with a sea and air escort, was attacked off Bardia, and lighters were directly hit. Heavy Allied bombers attacked three large merchantmen iu the Eastern Mediterranean and claim one direct hit and near misses. Ships Hit at Tobruk The increased air activity as mentioned in to-day's Cairo communique is . amplified by the R.A.F. Middle East news service, which sta"te3 that during a heavy raid on TJobruk on Monday night a direct hit on a ship was followed by explosions. There were volumes of black smoke and the fire was visible from 50 miles away. Another vessel in the middle harbour* was set ablaze, and a large fuel fire was started between the jetty area and the naval fuel installations. Bomb bursts were also observed among the searchlights and gun positions. Other bombers raided the hart-efcir at Mersa Matruh. From all operations, including those at Malta, four aircraft are missing, but one pilot is safe. Supplies Intercepted The Admiralty states that two further successes against the enemy's supply routes in the Mediterranean have been scored by a British subnUEJine. The submarine torpedoed and sank the Italian steamship Adda, of 800 tons, and succeeded in rescuing a number of survivors. The ship was fully laden. The same submarine intercepted another enemy supply ship which attempted to escape. The snip was engaged by gunfire and severely damaged before she was beached by her crew under the protection of Italian coastal batteries on the east coast of Sardinia. The submarine was engaged by these batteries, but was not hit, and suffered no casualties or damage. POLISH CONTINGENT TRAINING IN MIDDLE EAST LARGEST ALLIED GROUP (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON Aug. 5 The Poles are now by far the largest of the various Allied contingents which make up the Middle East Armies, says 1 the Jerusalem correspondent of the Times. A large draft of Poles who came from Russia three months ago raised them to the rank of a small airmy complete with all their own arms and auxiliary services, including a Women's Corps. The commander of the Poles, General Zajac, believes that the Polish force will total 100,000 when the reserve of Polish manpower in Russia is fully drawn on. The Poles are quartered in huge camps in Palestine where they are accustoming themselves to the new British equipment. Among them are entire units who fought in Poland. The physical standard is high and discipline is good. It seems to be an army destined to be reckoned with. The Officer Cadet Training Unit has 160 gunner cadets alone. Most of the instructors have been drawn, like General Zajac, from Polish divisions, who have been in Scotland. They are thus familiar with, the British weapons and material. The pets of the camp are the 1500 boy soldiers, aged from eight to 17, ' who were brought from Russia and 1 immediately attached to the army and put into khaki. It has now been decided to send those under 14 to school. Others are training to be signallers, mechanics, ' drivers and aircraft fitters. By the time they reach military age they are already specialists. AUSTRALIAN COAL INCREASING PRODUCTION (Special Australian Correspondent) 1 ( SYDNEY, Aug. 6 The opening of new rich seams and improved underground transport have . been suggested by the Miners' Feder- ' ation to step up.coal production in Australia to meet Wartime demands. The general secretary of the Miners' Feder- , ation, Mr. G. W. S. Grant, said the . concentration on richer coal-producing : areas might entail the closing of some i mines to enable available manpower to be used for a greater output. : FOOD CANNING L SPEED-UP IN AUSTRALIA' (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) MEXiBOUKNE, Aug. fl Meat is to be canned "to the limit of the nation's capacity." There will also be a thirty-fold increase in the canning of vegetables. This is part of the campaign of intensified food pro- ' cessing decided on by the Australian 1 Food Council. . . > It is hoped that canning equipment < w ill be secured from America in tune 1 to process the incoming crops. The British Ministry of Food has been asked to send two representatives to ]om the 1 Australian Food Council. 1 FEEDING ALLIED FORCES LONDON, Aug. 0 ' Much interest has been arouse .1 in 1 Britain by the decision taken by tne ; Food Council in Australia to make Aus- , tralia's most valuable contribution to ' Allied food distribution the feeding or 1 the Allied forces in the South-west 1 Pacific. At the same time Australia wnl do her best to help in feeding the Allies outside this area. London has been asked to send to Australia two representatives of the British Ministry of Food to help m co-ordination.