“MCE WORK”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1942, Page 4

“MCE WORK”

BOMBARDMENT OF MERSA MATRUH BUILDINGS BLOWN SKY HIGH. BOMBS FROM PLANES ADDED TO SHELLS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.12 p.m.) RUGBY,* July 21.' Mersa Matruh, the key Axis supply base, received its heaviest battering from the British Navy early yesterday, according to an agency correspondent, when warships swept in and plastered the harbour works and shipping with hundreds of high-explosive shells. Buildings were blown sky high and shipping was straddled as the naval guns raked their target for nearly half an hour. Some 400 shells were fired and deadly accuracy was maintained throughout the bombardment. Time after time targets were straddled perfectly by high explosives. A small petrol ship was among the vessels in the harbour. As the warships opened fire, naval planes flew off from the war vessels to add their bombs to the stream of shells flying inshore. A heavy anti-aircraft fire met the planes, but there was little opposition to the warships. In a desperate attempt to blind the warships, the Germans fired at flares as they floated down, but they managed to hit only one or two.

A squadron commander, before leaving, wirelessed to the warships: “Nice work, but it’s a bit hot up here.”