TWO DESTROYERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 September 1942, Page 3

TWO DESTROYERS

LOST IN OPERATIONS OFF TOBRUK MAJORITY OF CREWS SAVED. LAND & AIR ACTIVITY IN EGYPT. LONDON, September 16. In the recent naval operations off Tobruk two destroyers, the Sikh and the Zulu, were lost. The majority of the officers and men were saved. It is hoped that many other survivors reached the shore. The destroyers belonged to the Tribal class, of 1870 tons, and were completed in 1938. In Egypt there is a little more activity in daylight. Last night patrols were active in all sectors. Enemy fighters made a sweep over the battle area. Although only one is claimed to have been destroyed, at least five others probably did not return to their base. A message from Cairo states that the Air Force in the Middle East is receiving constant reinforcements. RAID ON TOBRUK DIFFICULT & HAZARDOUS TASK. CARRIED OUT GALLANTLY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, Septembei' 16. Describing the recent raid on Tobruk, a 8.8. C. observer in Cairo says the operation was perdominantly naval and was preceded by an exceptionally heavy air attack. The Army did not take part on any considerable scale, though a picked force of soldiers was landed by the Navy, to carry out the work of destroying port installations. This was a hazardous operation, in the face of heavy odds, and it was carried out while a considerable weight of our bombs was actually falling. The Allied air forces fairly plastered the harbour defences, the jetty and ships as well as attacking guns, searchlights, stores, camps, dumps and all kinds of buildings. Against both our air strength and raiders from the sea, the Axis forces fought back hard, for, as at Dieppe, we were deliberately going for the enemy’s strong point, and it was reasonable to suppose that Tobruk had become an administrative centre for Rommel’s Afrika Corps. PATROL ACTIVITY ENEMY PARTIES ENGAGED & HARASSED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.)

RUGBY, September 16. A Cairo communique states: “On Monday night our patrols were active in all sectors. Enemy patrols and working parties were engaged and haras■sed.”