AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION

Southland Times, Issue 24886, 28 October 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION

Axis Attacks Beaten Off

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 26. The Brussels radio says the Allies in North Africa have 1,000,000 men, 1000 tanks and a large number of aircraft. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent with the Bth Army says Field-Marshal Rommel’s most powerful counterattacks are directed against the Australians, who beat off five distinct blows within a few hours.

The London newspapers publish the first radio pictures from the Western Desert. The most dramatic shows soldiers in tin hats and shorts leaping to the attack with fixed bayonets through a maze of enemy shellfire. The Italian communique states: “Renewed violent enemy attacks supported by armoured forces in Egypt failed. The number of enemy tanks destroyed has increased to 104. Our assault planes frustrated an enemy attempt to land troops in the rear of our lines in the Mersa Matruh area and also forced numerous enemy motor-barges carrying troops to turn back. An Italian submarine has failed to return to its base and part of the crew has been taken prisoner.” GERMAN CLAIMS The German communique claims that very heavy losses were everywhere inflicted on the British in Egypt during a successful defence against heavy attacks. The communique then repeats passages of the Rome communique referring to Egypt. Vichy radio, quoting a German News Agency message endorsed by the German High Command, said the German main lines at El Alamein have not been pierced. The Africa Corps was anticipating a new British assault while air reconnaissance revealed large British forces were concentrating on the southern and northern fringes of the front. Vichy radio declared that the Axis reserve troops in Egypt had not yet been engaged in the battle. The Navy’s part in the Mediterranean campaign is outstanding. During the last recorded series of attacks four British submarines sank five Italian supply ships, probably sank a destroyer and an armed merchant cruiser and damaged five other ships. This brought the total Axis supply ships sunk or damaged in the Mediterranean by submarines during October to 24, of which 14 were sunk. The course of the battles at present are uniformly favourable to the United Nations’ cause, declares The New York Times. The offensive in Egypt has successfully' opened with British and American air mastery. British air raids on Italian cities are causing terrific damage in addition to disrupting Field-Marshal Rommel’s supply lines. All the positions taken by the New Zealanders following their night attack when General Montgomery launched his offensive against Rommel are still held, says the Official War Correspond-

ent with the N.Z.E.F. Although no details of yesterday’s fighting have yet reached Cairo it is believed here that the New Zealanders were not engaged in any major action yesterday. They have consolidated all their newly-taken objectives and are now ready to take their part in the next phase of the Bth Armb’s offensive.