AXIS REPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1942, Page 4

AXIS REPORTS

ON ALLEGED LANDING ATTEMPTS SUCCESS CLAIMED AGAINST BRITISH WARSHIPS NEAR TOBRUK. NAZI STORY OF RAID NEAR CHERBOURG. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) “ LONDON, September 14. An Italian communique states that after prolonged air attacks by large formation, the British last night attempted to land paratroops in the Tobruk area, under cover of naval units. British warships attempted to land troops simultaneously, with the support of six cruisers and destroyers. An Italian and German offensive promptly frustrated the attack. Two British warships were hit and set on fire and one of the ships subsequently sank. . A German communique referring to this affair stated that a number of prisoners were taken. The communique also says that “a British platoon consisting of five officers, one ser-geant-major and a private, on the night of September 12, attempted to land east of Cherbourg. They were discovered before they reached shore and shelled. Their boat was sunk. Three British officers and a de Gaullist naval officer were taken prisoner and a major, a sergeant-major and a private were killed.

SEABORNE RAID

CAIRO OFFICIAL REPORT. LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. LONDON, September 14. Light naval forces carried out a seaborne raid on Tobruk, a Cairo communique states. An air attack was also made on a considerable scale. Landings were made in the face of strong opposition. Casualties and damage were inflicted on the enemy. A raid of such a nature could not be carried out without losses, which were to be expected.