OUTLIE OF OPERATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 24291, 4 September 1942, Page 3

OUTLIE OF OPERATIONS

SITUATION APPARENTLY IN HAND DOMINION TROOPS TAKE PRISONERS (British Official Wireless.) (Reo. 8 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 3. An outline of events to date was given to the Press by the Commander of the Eighth Army, Lieutenant-gene-ral B. L. Montgomery, at his headquarters yesterday. General Montgomery said: “On Sunday night the enemy carried! out two raids before midnight, but they were unsuccessful. The Australians stopped them flat at the north, while against the West Yorkshires they gained a little ground on our position, which was shortly afterwards restored by the Essex Regiment. We ourselves launched raids in the moonlight, and in one raid the South Africans did well, taking 51 Italian prisoners.. The New Zealanders did equally well, and captured 30. “At about 2 a,in. on August 31 a German column moved forward to the northern end of the southern sector, and their armoured and mobile forces were used to get through into our minefield. To do so the entire Afrika Corps was used. By 10 a.m. it was evident the enemy was aiming northeast, and by 5 p.m. they were probing our positions, but did not press the attack. “ During the night our Air Fox'ces were most active on the enemy’s concentrations. For its part the Army made three successful raids in the north-central sedfjr. The Australians took 100 prisoners, the South Africans 12, and tlxe New Zealanders, although not capturing any prisoners, wrought havoc in the enemy’s lines with their favourite weapon—the bayonet. “ On September 1 the enemy were contented with probing our southern positions with the Afrika Corps. It was a good day in the air with the R.A.F. bombing everything in sight. “ The enemy reacted by carrying out heavy raids. The same day, at 5.30 p.m., the enemy launched an attack on three points. We took them up, and they withdrew without pressing their attack against our armoured forces and artillery, which was ready to meet them. During the night the air forces alone were active. Up to 3 p.m. on Wednesday it has been quiet, with no armoured clashes, while in the southern sector there was some shelling and bombing.” AIR SUPERIORITY BRITISH TALLY IN MIDDLE EAST (Reo. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 3. The ‘ Exchange Telegraph’s ’ Cairo correspondent says that since the outbreak of the war 2,582 enemy planes have been destroyed in air combats in the Middle East. We lost 1,502. It is also known that we destroyed more on the ground than the Germans. AIR FIGHTING INCREASES 15 ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY. September 3. Air fighting increased over the Egyptian battlefields yesterday. British fighters and bombers were active from dawn to dusk, two Me. 109’s being early victims. The main feature in the morning was bombing by both sides. Allied bombers made six raids against the enemy’s armoured forces, accurate scoring being recorded on a number of concentrations. In spite of heavy opposition new records were created, over 20 per cent, more bombing sorties being flown than on any previous day in the desert. In one attack bombs fell among enemy troops, who were already being shelled. The total score for the day was eight Mo. 109’s. one Macchi 202. and six Ju. 87’s definitely destroyed. The British lost 10 planes, but five of the pilots are safe. FIVE AXIS PLANES DOWNED NEW ZEALAND GUNNERS' ACCURACY (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) , WESTERN DESERT, Sept. 1. A record number of fix e planes were brought down by New Zealand antiaircraft gunners yesterday. Their performance was exceptionally creditable, as three of the planes were fast Messerschmitts IG9F and the other two were Macchis 202. One plane, which was evidently carrying a bomb load, disintegrated in mid-air, but the others crashed and caught fire. The pilot of one parachuted to within a few yards of the headquarters of the anti-aircraft regiment which had shot him down. It was a busy day for anti-aircraft batteries, but many of the planes seen were concentrating on other areas. The New Zealanders escaped with only light raids. A dust storm hindered artillery activity, but our guns were engaged in dispersing tank and lorry formations. Strong patrols accompanied by tanks which went out from the New Zealand lines last night performed their tasks without much incident. One tank crashed over a lorry and an anti-tank gun, destroyed several machine guns and overran infantry in weapon pits. Another lorry was destroyed with a hand grenade. The divisional cavalry has been active, and this morning it captured an armoured car.