ENEMY DRONES AND BARGES ATTACKED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 171, 22 July 1942, Page 5

ENEMY DRONES AND BARGES ATTACKED

ALLIED SUCCESSES

Germans Straighten Line

After Battle

United Press Association. —Copyright. Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, July 21

The latest Cairo communique says land operations have been confined to patrol activities. The main Allied effort was a large-scale attack on aerodromes near Fuka. Direct hits were scored and fires started, about 30 planes being damaged on the ground. One Italian fighter was shot down in combat, and others damaged.

Long-range fighters attacked and set fire to enemy barges, with fighter escort, north-east of Sidi Barrani. Medium bombers during the night attacked tanks, planes and vehicles in the battle area, causing explosions and fires. Allied fighters during minor activity over Malta shot down a Messerschmitt. Five of our planes are missing from all operations, but two pilots are safe.

The Germans are taking advantage of the present lull on the El Alamein front and have fallen back at some points to straighten up their lines. This was forced on them by the failure of their repeated tank and infantry attacks last week. They were squeezed by the Australians southwards down the Qattara track, between the El Alamein and Tel el Isa stations, and also by our stonewall resistance against their tanks in the central sector. Rommel Withdraws Forces Rommel has withdrawn some of his forces from the salient a few miles south of the El Alamein area. The South Africans immediately moved ua taking some prisoners, as I the enemy forces, mainly Italians, slipped back. The British United Press correspondent reports that the enemy is now holding almost a straight north and south line from a point eight miles west of El Alamein until it reaches a point about 20 miles inland, where it veers slightly to the west for three or four miles before going south again. The Associated Press correspondent says it is estimated that the British and Allied forces last week knocked out or captured at least 50 heavy artillery pieces, 45 anti-tank guns and 32 tanks, mostly heavy tanks, and that nearly 500 of the enemy taken prisoner were artillery men. This was clearly a heavy blow to Rommel. Westward Advance The latest Allied advance to El Taqa and Jebel Kalakh represents a total advance of 10 miles from the eastern extremity of the Axis push. El Taqa and Jebel Kalakh are regions on higher ground immediately north of the eastern end of Qattara Depression, and Jebel Kalakh is about 20 miles to the south of El Alamein. El Taqa is from five to six miles farther south.

The combination of air and ground operations has been particularly fruitful in this sector. The R.A.F. here hit six or seven tanks in one group.

A British United Press correspondent says an officer told him of his experiences at Tel el Isa. "We only lost the railway station for one hour between nine and 10 o'clock on the night of July 10." said the officer. "This was when the enemy panzers simply crashed a way through before we had time to get out our minefields and barbed wire. In the counter-attack our men used 'sticky' bombs, which were most effective. They smashed the tanks and the terrified Italian infantry cleared out. We recaptured the station and it has been in our possession ever since."

The Cairo correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the awed respect which Australian patrols have inspired members of the Italian staff who had previous experience of them is illustrated in a letter from an Italian divisional officer to a battalion commander who was taking his men into the line for the first time.

The letter stated: "Units before you are Australians—notable patrollers. Keep your eyes open. Withdraw your patrols more than 100 metres from strong-points or you will find yourself high and dry with only an alarm bell for protection."