NEW BLITZ AGAINST MALTA

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 16, 14 October 1942, Page 5

NEW BLITZ AGAINST MALTA

Allied Plan In Egypt (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

LONDON, October 12.

The International News Office, Dr. Goebbels’s latest propaganda agency, predicts an early Allied attack iu cue Western Desert. It says that Axis military circles are satisfied that General Alexander is about to launch an offensive before the raiuy’ period sets in, converting the Quattara Depression into an insurmountable 'quagmire. The German air forces in the Mediterranean battle zone have been considerably strengthened, and air activity by both sides on the African front has increased to a remarkable extent, the statement says. German reconnaissance has observed strong Allied motorized columns ready behind the south wing of the British Alamein front and also on the Quattara Depression. Allied artillery fire is increasing on the central and northern fronts while the Allied air force is more frequently in the skies over the battlefield and in greater force. Berlin radio says that 1000 medium and heavy bombs were dropped on Malta yesterday during attacks lasting from dawn to dusk and claims that several squadrons of British and American long-range bombers and transport planes were destroyed on the ground and large fires started. The raids on Malta were connected will) the Libyan campaign. Malta reports that enemy air attacks increased yesterday when 200 aircraft were over the island in five waves. At least 15 of them were shot down and many more were damaged for the loss of one of our planes. In one raid no fewer than 65 enemy fighters escorted six 'Junkers. This raid was also successfully broken no Further Heavy Raids. The island was raided nine limes today. Twenty-two Axis planes were destroyed for certain, and others damaged, making a total of 37 aircraft destroyed over Malta in the last two days. In another part, of the Mediterranean yesterday a heavy enemy destroyer received it direct hit from a heavy calibre armour-piercing bomb. American heavy bombers attacked a convoy south of Crete yesterday ami got two direct hits on a big merchantman. It was left burning and sinking. A Cairo communique states that heavy bomliers on Saturday night attacked the aerodrome nt Tymbttki, Crete, starting fires. Long-range lighters attacked n schooner north-east of Sidi Barrani and left it enveloped in smoke. ’Targets on Soilum-Sidi Barrani road were also attacked. Heavy bombers claim a direct hit on the stern of a merchantman in an attack yesterday on a south-bound convoy near Crete.

A fire which was described by a pilot as the largest he had ever seen in North Africa wits started in lhe Tobruk area on Sunday night by R.A.F. tiled'-' urn bombers. The blaze, which is i><lieved to have come from a big petrol dump, was visible over 100 miles away. There was another large blaze iu the Tobruk dock area and fires along the harbour and also at, Mersa Matruh.