NO CHANGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1942, Page 3

NO CHANGE

REPORTED IN EGYPT LULL ALONG THE WHOLE BATTLEFRONT. ALLIED AIR RAIDS ON TOBRUK & CRETE. LONDON, July 26. The lull over the whole battlefront continues in Egypt. There is no change in the positions of the opposing armies. A British communique reports patrol activity on all sectors and artillery exchanges. The British gunners’ main targets are enemy gun positions and vehicles. It seems as if the enemy is digging in between El Alamein and the Qattara Depression. Air activity is also on a reduced scale. Light bombers successfully attacked Axis targets and heavy bombers made a night raid on Tobruk, aerodromes in Crete and targets in the battle area. Three Axis planes were shot down in the Nile Delta —two Italian machines off Port Said and a German reconnaissance bomber near Alexandria. Long-range fighters flew out to sea and attacked enemy barges north-west of Mersa Matruh. Malta had three small-scale raids and its 2,800 th. elert. DIGGING IN MAY NOT INDICATE DEFENSIVE ATTITUDE. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, July 26. During an almost complete lull in the Western Desert of Egypt, according to an observer broadcasting from the battle zone, there are signs that the enemy is digging himself in between El Alamein and the Quattara Depression and thus creating some sort of defensive line. The enemy, however, always does dig in, as much as anything to give himself cover from air attack. It is pointed out in London that the fact of digging in and minelaying does not indicate necessarily a defensive attitude, as a desert position is usually mined to hinder the advance of tanks, but the existence of a minefield by no means prevents a defender from attacking. It is learned that a fighter squadron, renowned for its work in the Battle of Britain, in offensive sweeps and in the defence of Malta, is now operating in the desert. The squadron is associated with the County of London and most of its members are from the London area. AIR ACTIVITY ON A REDUCED SCALE. SOME LONG-RANGE RAIDS. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, July 26. A Middle East joint communique states: “Land operations have been confined to patrols and artillery exchanges. “Ah’ activity has been on a reduced scale. Heavy bombers attacked Tobruk, Crete and the battle area. Barges north-west of Mersa Matruh were attacked by long-range fighters. Three enemy planes were destroyed.” r . EXTENDED VISIT MADE BY MUSSOLINI TO LIBYA. ACCORDING TO ROME RADIO. LONDON, July 25. The Rome radio says that Mussolini was in Libya from June 29 to July 20 and that he inspected troops, air bases and hospitals and presided daily over meetings of the High Command. He spent several hours in Athens on his homeward journey. He saw the Italian commander and the Greek Premier, M. Thakaloglu. He visited the Acropolis.