MITRUH BLASTED BY BRITISH WARSHIPS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 174, 25 July 1942, Page 5

MITRUH BLASTED BY BRITISH WARSHIPS

BASE MADE USELESS

Much-Bombed Tobruk Now Nearest Axis Port U.P.A. and British Wireless. Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, July 2-L British warships have now bombarded Mersa Matruh six times it is disclosed in Alexandria, according to an agency correspondent. It is claimed that besides Mersa Matruh's usefulness as an advanced Axis base being greatly reduced by the blasting of the harbour installations and buildings. British naval guns were responsible for blowing up an ammunition ship outside the harbour and sinking a petrol vessel in the harbour. They also destroyed a number of lighters and small vessels. It is believed tne enemy's immediate supply of ammunition has been affected by the pounding received by Mersa Matruh. The only opposition encountered so far by the bombarding warships has been shrapnel from anti-aircraft guns, which the defenders fire as low as possible over the ships, hoping that the shell bursts will cause casualties and damage.

The enemy's E-boats have been easily beaten off and have finally escaped in the darkness behind a smoke screen without having opened fire. British naval aircraft play an important part in the bombardments, spotting the fall of the shells.

The naval bombardments of Mersa Matruh have the double objective of destroying material, and. as far as possible, stopping the enemy from using Mersa Matruh as a port and base for workshops and supplies. The Associated Press correspondent with the British Fleet says: "The enemy's most advanced sea base is flatter than a pancake, following the sixth bombardment within 10 days. Mersa Matruh harbour and shore buildings and small craft have been blasted into heaps of debris. The enemy is now not attempting to use Mersa Matruh harbour, but is using Tobruk and Bengasi for discharge points, thus incurring the handicap of a long overland haul under air attack.

"Naval aircraft spotted for the warships and also dumped bombs oil supply depots and set fire to ammunition and petrol dumps. The Axis shore batteries put up a heavy fife, but the British suffered no damage and no casualties."

The heavy attack by the Bth Army has evoked praise of the remarkable recovery it has made since its reverses last month. The Daily Telegraph says the recovery has been astonishingly swift and complete. The Times writes: "In putting the value of his recuperative work to the present crucial test, General Sir Claude Auchinleck must have required to calculate with special accuracy the moment for his counterstroke. Both armies had to be refitted and reinforced. If the process were allowed to continue for long the balance must have been in favour of the enemy, with his short sea route aero. r. the Mediterranean, contrasted with the long passage round the Cape."