EARLIER REPORTS

Evening Star, Issue 24289, 2 September 1942, Page 5

EARLIER REPORTS

EGYPTIAN BATTLE RENEWED R.A.F. STRIKE HEAVY BLOWS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 1. Fighting in Egypt continued throughout the day, and is still progressing, according to a correspondent with the Eighth Army. The fighting is mainly confined to the southern sector. The result of the engagements between British light armoured forces and enemy tanks is not yet available. Despite the curtailment of air activity by dust storms, the R.A.F. carried out most successful bombing raids. ft Is officially stated in Alexandria that 2,368,000 • tons of Axis merchant shipping has been sunk or damaged in the Mediterranean since Italy entered the war, including 1,479,000 tons entirely destroyed. The enemy has also lost in the Mediterranean four eight-inch-gun cruisers, five six-inch-gun cruisers, about 50 destroyers, and miscellaneous craft. The Axis submarine losses can- • not be disclosed, but are known to be considerable. COMBAT IN THE AIR RAF. FIGHTERS HAVE GOOD DAY (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 12.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 1. It is officially stated that in air combat in Egypt yesterday our fighters destroyed! at least seven enemy planes, in addition- to many on the ground. Two were shot down by our long-range fighters over the sea at night. Our bombers raided concentrations of enemy vehicles in the battle area. STRENGTH OF AXIS FORCES (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, Sept. 1. The Axis forces; in North Africa are now estimated at 12 divisions, including two Gorman and two Italian armoured divisions, two German and six Italian infantry divisions. Whether all of these are at full strength is unknown. Recent arrivals were the German 104th Division and the Italian Pistoia Division.