RAIDS INTO DESERT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 September 1942, Page 3

RAIDS INTO DESERT

MASTERPIECE OF PLANNING & ORGANISATION SHOCK FOR THE ENEMY LIKELY TO GIVE FEELING OF INSECURITY (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON. September 23.

Official quarters steadfastly refuse to disclose details of the mobile columns' raids on Barce, Benghazi, and Jalo. but correspondents agree that the exploits are among the bravest and most dashing that have been undertaken in the desert theatre for some time. The material results from the raids were not insignificant, but it is pointed out that probably the most important result of these small operations is the feeling of insecurity which they produce along the entire length of the Axis - lines of communication.

The "Daily Telegraph's" military correspondent states that the raid's will inevitably result in a strengthening of the Axis garrisons and a diversion to rear areas of an increased proportion of weapons and stores which otherwise would be available for the forward troops. The Cairo correspondent of the “Telegraph" says that specially-trained groups employed stick bombs in the destruction of places round Barce and Benghazi. Jalo was occupied after sharp day-and-night fighting. Allied artillery had previously, blown up munition supply dumps. Large supplies had accumulated at the oasis, which the enemy had clearly regarded as being outside the range of British raiding parties. “Behind the prosaic words of the Cairo communique announcing the leng-range raids lies a story of audacity and courage that have been seldom equalled in the desert warfare,” says the Cairo correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph agency. “The whole story cannot be told, because it would tell the enemy too much. The raiders on their return to their bases related details which make the hair stand on end.

“It was a masterpiece of planning and organisation to enable the mobile, hard-hitting force, equipped with artillery. to trek 500 miles across the desert wastes, deliver its blows, and then return a similar distance to the bases.”

The Western Desert correspondent of “The Times" says: “These magnificent exploits are part and parcel of a systematic plan for damaging and disturbing the enemy’s supply arrangements, thus preventing, or at least delaying, the completion of Rommel’s immediate task of building up his battered army.”

PATROL ACTIVITY

ON THE EGYPTIAN FRONT.

AXIS SUPPLY PROBLEMS

LONDON, September 24. In Egypt, ail is quiet except for patrol activity along the whole front. The present front is described as not exactly a line, but a series of strong points. The enemy has not yet tried to poke his head out again. There are indications that he is regrouping his forces for the next move. Shipping and supplies are still a big problem for the Axis. The enemy is faced with difficulty not only in maintaining his tanks and guns but in getting them across to Africa.

DIRECT HIT ON ENEMY SHIP IN GREEK WATERS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY. September 24. A Cairo Headquarters communique says: “During Tuesday night our patrol activity was continued. “Yesterday there was nothing to report from our land forces. “On Tuesday our torpedo-carrying aircraft scored a direct hit, which caused an explosion, on an enemy vessel off the coast of Greece. “There was a slight increase in enemy air activity over the battle area yesterday.” _____ .