Rommel Makes No New Advance

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 112, 5 September 1942, Page 5

Rommel Makes No New Advance

Afrika Korps Undergoes Heavy Air Attack (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, Sept. 8, In the Western Desert, the lull ot the past two days continued to-day. Correspondents say that operations again returned to the level oi patrol actions. Rommel's Afrika Korps remains essentially in the neigflbpuriiooa reached on tne afternoon of August 31 (north-east El linnelmat). There has been no backward Uerman movement. The British unitea Frees correspondent with the Eignth Array says that tho loth and 21st German Tank Divisions suffered heavy losses in the recent fighting. The German tank losses were at least three times as great as ours. To-day’s Cairo communique says:“During Tuesday night, no land operations developed in any sector of the iront. Yesterday, in the southern sector, there was no major engagement, but tne enemy were subjected to a heavy anu continuous artillery and air bombarumeni. une principal target was enemy armoured forces and transport concentrations in the Himelmat-Xtuweisat area. Our mobile forces attacked and harassed the enemy in this sector, destroying many vehioies. “In engagements over the battle area yesterday, our fighters shot down six dive-bombers ana nine fighters, while our bombers made a record number oi sorties, with satisfactory results. On xuesaay night, our medium bombers u. tacked targets in tne oatue area, and our Heavy bombers raided Tobruk. Similar heavy raids were made on Wednesday night, with particularly satisfactory resuits near El Daba.

“R.A.F. torpeuo-carrying aircraft on Tuesday night claimed a hit on an enemy merchant vessel off Cyrenaica, while yesterday our long-range flgnters succeasiully attacked other enemy vessels.” Air fighting increased over the Egyptian oattlefielda yesterday. British fighters and bombers were active from dawn to dusk, two Messerschmitt-109'a being early victims. The main feature in the morning wa» the bombing by both sides. Allied bombers making six raids against the enemy s armoured forces. Accurate scoring was registered on a number of concentrations, xn 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 orte attack, bombs (ell among enemy troops who were already being snelled. The total score of the day was eight Messerschmit-109's, one Macohi-202, ana six Junkers-87’s definitely destroyed. The British lost ten planes, but five of the pilots are safe. Enemy concentrations were also bombed on Wednesday night.