MIDDLE EAST

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21836, 17 September 1942, Page 3

MIDDLE EAST

STRONG REINFORCEMENTS AEROPLANES AND GUNS AIR SWEEPS IN EGYPT LONDON, Sept. 16 A Cairo communique states: On Monday night our patrols were active in all sectors. Enemy patrols i and working parties were engaged land harassed. Yesterday there was I nothing to report from our land forces. Axis aeroplanes carried out a sweep over the Egyptian battle area today. Only one is officially claimed to have been destroyed, but it is believed that at least five more would be unable to return to their bases. Strong air reinforcements have been arriving in the Middle East, says a correspondent. Mr Oliver Lyttelton. Minister of Production, said today that sixpounder anti-tank guns had been sent <o Egypt in large numbers. They had also the 25-pounder and the 4.5 guns, which had few equals and no superiors. Heavy Attack on Tobruk Describing the recent raid on Tobruk the British Broadcasting Corporation’s observer at Cairo says: The operation was predominantly naval and was preceded by an exceptionally heavy air attack. The Army did not take part on any considerable scale, though a picked force of soldiers was landed by the Navy to carry out the work of destroying the port installations. It was a hazardous operation, in the face of heavy odds, and was carried out while a considerable weight of our bombs was actually falling. The Allied air forces fairly plastered the harbour defences, the jetty and ships, as well as attacking guns, searchlights, stores, camps, dumps and all kinds of buildings. Against our air strength and raiders from the sea the Axis fought back hard, for. as at Dieppe, we were deliberately going for the enemy's strong point, and it was reasonable to suppose that Tobruk has become the administrative centre for Rommel's Afrika Korps. Allied Air Superiority The combined operation against Tobruk last Sunday is an outstanding example of Allied air superiority in the Middle East, states a correspondent with the Eighth Army. It was a real United Nations raid, with aircraft drawn from the Royal Air Force, South African Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and the United States Army Air Force. The correspondent says he wishes he could disclose the numbers that took part. They were an impressive indication of Allied air strength in the Middle East. The Axis, says the correspondent, had been steadily building up Tobruk as a main base and supply port for its North African army, and it is reasonable to suppose that Tobruk has become the key administration centre for the Afrika Korps. Tobruk is as far away from the Allies as the Germans can get—about half-way between Malta and Alexandria. The chief object of the attack was the destruction of as much shipping, harbour installations, stores and storage facilities as possible. The Italians and Germans had landed at Tobruk locomotives and rails with which they reconditioned the Tobruk-El Alamein railway built by the New Zealand railway construction companies. Italian and German ability to bring in locomotives demonstrated the possibility of similarly landing tanks, guns and ammunition, so the raid was decided upon. Lull In Front-line Battle The lull in the front-line battle areas of the desert is deceptive, because a tremendous war of supply and transport is going on all the time between the Allies and the Axis, reports a correspondent. While the Eighth Army is getting more and more powerful, they go on striking as hard as they can in the front or the rear at the enemy, who, after the rough time he was given a fortnight ago, is recuperating and getting his reserves together again as fast as he can. That, says the correspondent, is why the Allies raided Tobruk. EAGLE SQUADRONS TRANSFER OF AMERICANS (Unitor) Props \s«n.—Kim. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 17. 12.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Sept. 16 The Board of Senior American Air Force officers has completed the transfer of 50 members of Eagle Squadrons to the United States Army Air Forces. An Eagle Squadron composed of American personnel has been operating with the Royal Air Force for the past 18 months. Following the transfer of the entire personnel three squadrons will operate as a fighter group. Arrangements are being completed for the transfer to the United States Air Force of all United States nationals now serving with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force who desire to make application. INSULTS IN PARLIAMENT rPROAR IN AUSTRALIA (Unltm Press Assn.—Elec Tel. Copyright) (Received Sent. 17. noon) CANBERRA. Sept. 17 “The Government would not hesitate to fight an election on the Budget.” stated Mr J. Curtin, Prime Minister, in Parliament. "I invite the Opposition to have this matter out with me in a place where the umpires would be those wh§> would have to find the money." Mr Curtin was replying to Mr R. G. Menzies. who attacked the Government’s Budget proposals as being inflationary. The debate was marked by frequent uproar. Members shouted insults at each other and the speakers’ voices were often drowned.