PREDICTIONS BY GOEBBELS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 241, 13 October 1942, Page 5

PREDICTIONS BY GOEBBELS

ATTACK IN WESTERN DESERT. INCREASED AIR ACTIVITY.

P.A. Cable.

LONDON, Oct. 12.

The International News Office, Goebbels's latest propaganda agency, predicts an early Allied attack in the Western Desert. It says that Axis military circles are satisfied that General Alexander is about to launch an offensive before the rainy period sets in, converting the Qattara Depression into an insurmountable quagmire. The German air force in the Mediterranean zone, it continues, has been considerably strengthened, and air activity on both sides of the African front has inc.reased to a remarkable extent. German reconnaissances have seen strong Allied motorised columns ready behind the south wing of the British E1 Alamein front, and also in the Qattara Depression. Allied artillery fire is increasing on the central and nprthern fronts, while their air force is more frequently in the skies over the battlefield and in great force. Berlin radio says that 1000 medium and heavy bombs were dropped on Malta yesterday during attacks lasting from dawn to dusk. It claims that several squadrons of AngloAmerican long-range bombers and transport planes were destroyed on the ground, and that large fires were started. The raids on Malta are stated to be connected with the Libyan campaign. After a week of much-reduced activity, in which inclement weather interfered with operations, the air arm went into action strongly on Friday when two of the biggest raids in the Western Desert were carried out by surorise, says the Western Desert correspondent of The Times. The objectives were enemy landing grounds in the1 low-lying coastal plain, also aircraft, anti-aircraft batteries, transport and administration buildings. The pilots after the raids talked of members of enemy gun crews "standing open - mouthed watching our aircraft sweep in from the sea," and of the Axis troops being shot down, before they fullv realised whai was happening. Reports from Cairo state that in the next desert battle the Axis will have more American weapons and the increased manpower of the United Nations against, them than at any time in the desert warfare.