HARD FIGHTING IN DESERT

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 257, 29 July 1942, Page 5

HARD FIGHTING IN DESERT

British Attack NORTHERN SECTOR FLARE-UP Artillery Duels LONDON, July 28. Following attacks on enemy positions in the northern sector of the El Alamein front on Sunday night, severe fighting developed yesterday, including heavy-artillery duels. This news is contained in today’s Cairo communique, which also said that our planes continued to attack the enemy in this sector, and last night Tobruk and El Daba were bombed. Sunday’s operations were reported yesterday to have been of a limited nature. We are known to have taken some prisoners and gained some ground. Elsewhere, the desert front was reported to ;be quiet, with isolated shelling and also the usual patrols. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press said that the . comparative lull in other sectors should not be considered as a stalemate. Both sides were strengthening their positions and feeling out the opposing strength. Rome radio announced that the Italian, Colonel Girardo Vaiarini, was killed) in action on the Egyptian front. He held the Savoia order, the highest Italian distinction. Heavy and medium R.A.F. bombers and heavy bombers of the United States Army Air Force carried out a raid on shipping-and harbour installations at Tobruk on the night of July 25. Large fires broke out. On the same night medium bombers of the R.A.F. and naval aircraft attacked enemy camps and concentrations of motor transport in the coastal area west of El Daba. Enemy landing grounds were also bombed, including the aerodrome at Heraklion, Crete, where bombs were seen to burst on runways and in dispersal areas. One enemy aircraft which was taking off burst into flames and crashed, and at least six other aircraft were set on fire. t - ■■