NORTH AFRICAN FRONT

Evening Star, Issue 24325, 14 October 1942, Page 3

NORTH AFRICAN FRONT

BOMBING AND PATROL ACTIVITY (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 13. A Cairo communique states: Our patrols were active on Sunday night. Small parties of enemy transport were dispersed by our fire yesterday. On Sunday night our bombers started a particularly large petrol fire in Tobruk, and also claimed a direct hit on an enemy destroyer north of Dema. An Italian merchantman which was sinking was sighted near the same position. Air activity in the battle area- yesterday was not on a large scale, but our light bombers and long-range fighters again successfully attacked a train of petrol lorries, road transport, and a schooner.’ They shot down, two enemy bombers. We lost six aircraft, including five Malta fighters. Two of the pilots are safe. TOBRUK BOMBED AGAIN (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 13. United States Flying Fortresses attacked a medium-sized merchantman in Tobruk Harbour td-day, says a Cairo message. One probable hit and numerous near misses were observed. There was heavy but inaccurate A.A. fire, and enemy fighters were over the target, but they failed to attack. MALTA'S AIR DEFENDERS A RECORD " BAG " LONDON, October 13. Forty enemy aircraft have been destroyed by Malta’s defenders in the past two days, bringing the total now accounted for to nearly 1,000. A Valetta communique states that the enemy attacks on the island continued on Sunday night, when one plane was shot down. Enemy activity was intensified yesterday, when 24 planes were destroyed—the best single day’s bag yet secured by Malta’s defenders. In addition, 50 enemy aircraft were damaged, many so badly that it is unlikely that they were able to reach their bases. The enemy tried all kinds of tactics to reach their objectives, which were mainly the airfields on the island. It is stated, however, that the military damage has been small. The island’s defences destroyed five bombers and one fighter in the first raid soon after dawn, and three bombers in the second raid, when some of the island’s aerodromes were attacked. The defenders, however, had their best moment in the afternoon, when our fighters closed on a large formation of enemy aircraft, pouncing on them out of the sun. Half the bomber force of 20 machines and five of their fighter escort were shot down into the sea. Half the remaining bombers and also many fighters, which never succeeded in coming anywhere near the island, were badly damaged. - TOLL INCREASED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.), RUGBY. Oct. 13. It is now known, says a Cairo communique, that at least 24 enemy aircraft were destroyed and about 50 damaged in yesterday’s attacks on Malta.