NIGHT ATTACK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24969, 16 July 1942, Page 5

NIGHT ATTACK

ENEMY^FORCES CLASH NEAR EL ALAMEIN HEAVY R.A.F. BOMBING (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON. July 15. To-day’s Cairo communique states that in the northern sector of the front near El Alamein there was no activity yesterday until late in the evening, when the enemy made an attack at Tel-el-Isa with tanks and infantry. Fighting continued into the night. In the central and southern sectors there was some activity by patrols and mobile forces.

Planes of the Royal Air Force made large-scale attacks against enemy forces. Direct hits were scored on tanks and troop-carrying vehicles. In one attack on a convoy of 15 enemy vehicles al] but one were destroyed. In further attacks other tanks were destroyed, and four enemy planes were shot down. Last night a strong force of medium bombers attacked Tobruk and started a row of fires which later merged into one large fire. Over Malta three enemy planes were shot down. Three of our aircraft are missing. but one of the pilots is safe. “The fighting in Egypt is going on under the full intensity of the summer sun. The heat is almost unbearable, and (he strain on the men is growing heavier every day.” says the Cairo correspondent of The Times. “The supply problem is becoming more acute for both sides because of the increased consumption of water and petrol.”