VARIOUS CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1942, Page 3

VARIOUS CLAIMS

MADE BY THE ENEMY ALLIED LANDING ATTEMPT. SAID TO HAVE BEEN DEFEATED. LONDON, October 26. An Italian communique states that renewed violent enemy attacks, supported by armoured forces, in Egypt failed. • The number of enemy tanks destroyed was increased to 104. “Our assault planes frustrated an enemy attempt to land troops in the rear of our lines in the Mersa Matruh area, and also forced numerous enemy motor-barges carrying troops to turn . back,” it adds. A German communique claims that very heavy losses everywhere were inflicted on the British in Egypt during a successful defence against heavy attacks. The communique then repeats ' the ■ passages of the Rome communii que referring to Egypt. ! The Vichy radio, quoting a German news agency message which was en- > dorsed by the German High Command, said that the German main lines at El Alamein were not pierced. The Afrika Korps is anticipating a new British assault, air reconnaissance revealing that large British forces are concentrating in the southern and northern fringes of the front. Vichy radio declared that the Axis reserve troops in Egypt were not yet engaged in the battle, NIGHT & DAY OPERATIONS OF ALLIED AIRCRAFT. MORE .ENEMY LOSSES OVER < 1 MALTA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, October 27. A Cairo communique states: “Largescale air operations have been continued over the battle area and on forward landing grounds, night and day, from October 25 to October 26. Bombers and fighter-bombers attacked a variety of targets and our fighters, operating day and night on a large scale, shot down 14 enemy aircraft. Our light bombers destroyed an additional Messerschmitt and small arms fire accounted for a further Messerschmitt. Continual fighter patrols have been made as a protection for our land forces against enemy activity, which is on an increased scale. “An enemy tanker off Tobruk burst into flames and a large enemy merchantman blew up, following upon hits with bombs and air torpedoes, during attacks on a convoy yesterday. After one attack our long-range fighters shot down two Heinkels. “Our Malta fighters shot down at least three Messerschmitts during attacks on the island yesterday, which were on a slightly reduced scale. “From the above mentioned operations 10 of our aircraft are missing.”