PRESSED BACK

Evening Star, Issue 24292, 5 September 1942, Page 5

PRESSED BACK

SLIGHT RETREAT BY ROMMEL BRITISH GUNS HAMMER EHEMY (British Official Wireless.) (Hoc. 9.40 a.jn.) "IUJGBY, Sept. 4. A Cairo communique states: Throughout yesterday our forces continued their pressure on the enemy ip the area between EJ Hameimat and Ruweisat, The enemy’s main concentrations moved slightly westward during the day. Allied light bombers broke their previous day’s record of sorties against enemy concentrations, ana fighter bombers were also active. The results were satisfactory, and no bombers were lost. Three enemy fighters were shot down during tne day by our escorting aircraft, no enemy dive-bombers operated over the battle area. A Heinkol was shot down over the Mediterranean by our long-range fighters, and a Cant, was destroyed near Burg-el-Arab. South African aircraft shot down an Me. 110. An earlier message stated: I'ielclMarshal 'Rommel has withdrawn his armoured forces to the south-'tt'est. This movement was forced by the Bntisu guns, which stopped them from getting supplies. Another reason for the withdrawal was the need of tho Germans to reinforce their mobile artillery. Tho 1 Daily Telegraph’s ’ correspondent in the Western Desert says that tho Afrika Corps, under cover_ of darkness, started voluntarily withdrawing from tho stovepipe-shaped area _ in which they have been pressed since dawn on August 31, and retreated nine miles to tho south. The correspondent of the Associates Press states that British tanks and armoured vehicles moved up and took over the positions which tho enemy abandoned. WATCH AND WARD ENEMY CONVOYS BADLY MAULED (British Official Wireless.) (Roc. noon.) RUGBY, Sept. 4. Two enemy convoys -were successfully attacked in the Mediterranean on the night of September 2 by R.A.F. bombers. One ship was badly damaged in each convoy. An R.A.F. reconnaissance squadron the previous night discovered the convoy in port and bombed its escort ships, forcing it to Ho up in harbour all next day. Next night the convoy was discovered to have sneaked out of port. The bombers pressed home an attack, and hit a large tanker, A violent explosion followed. Later observation showed that the tanker was badly damaged. The other convoy, consisting of medium-sized merchantmen, was attacked by torpedo-carrying aircraft. One ship was hit by two torpedoes, and later observation showed that this ship had been beached. Wrecked motor transport vehicles wero seen on the deck. NEW ZEALAND SECTOR SUCCESSFUL RAISING ACTIVITIES (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) CAIRO, September 3. No major actions have so far been fought by the New Zealanders since Field-Marshal, Rommel started his offensive. and they are still in the positions they have held for the past few weeks. Their main activities since Rommel started his attack early on Monday have been effective night raids and .solid artillery action with their own 25-ponnders and with medium guns of the Royal Artillery attached to the New Zealand formations. Before the Axis offensive started at 2 o’clock on Monday morning the New Zealanders and South Africans had carried out simultaneous raids in their respective sectors. Both were highly successful. Between the New Zealand and South African troops were Indians, who were heavily attacked by Germans The New Zealanders could hear that battle raging in the night, but no attempt was made by the Axis forces to punch a gap through the New Zealand defences. The New Zealanders had earlier carried out their raid with complete success. They brought back prisoners. Again on Monday night, while Rommel’s panzers were moving round far to the south-east of the New Zealand positions, the New Zealanders carried out another devastating night raid. They did all they intended to do—and they brought bach no prisoners. On Tuesday New Zealand guns accounted for several enemy tanks. Our artillery scored direct hits on two heavy tanks, and a third, which was damaged, withdrew with smoke issuing from it. Later it was scon to burst into flames. Six-pounder anti-tank guns, which engaged tho enemy at a range of 1,000 yards, destroyed two Italian medium tanks. Both burst into flames. In spite of a dust storm, New Zealand anti-aircraft batteries brought down two Messerschmitt 109’s. and several others were seen to be damaged. TOLL OF AXIS PLANES (N.Z.E.F Official War Correspondent) WESTERN DESERT. Sept.-3. Six Junkers SS’s ventured fairly low over the Now Zealand lines early yesterday afternoon after dropping bombs somewhere in tho rear. Only three of them reached the enemy lines, and one was obviously damaged. The others were brought down by our ack-ack guns, making a total of 10 planes destroyed in three days. Several of the planes’ crews parachuted and were captured. One plane made a spectacular effort •to get away after being hit. It skimmed the ground for a considerable distance, leaving a trail of smoke, but it crashed in flames in a forward position. A reconnaissance patrol which went out last night engaged an enemy working partv. Oth itrols performed tasks without incident, BRAZIL AT WAR RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 2. The Government has taken over 29 companies, including three steamship lines, an aerodrome factory, coal mines. Brazil’s bivgest shipyards, and gas and electric newer p’ants. all of which were previously owned by Senor Enrique Lage. w.io I'eqnaathed the whole to his widow, a former Italian samer. whoso request for Brazilian citizenship was recently rejected. The Government said that in view of a state of war tho Lage organisations were of great value to national defence.