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PATROLS BUSY
IN EGYPT
Heavy Losses Of
Axis Barges
AAP And Our Special Representative
LONDON, August 17
Today's communique from Cairo
reports that land operations in
Egypt in the past 24 hours nave
been confined to patrols. There
. has been increased activity in the
alr
I A Rome communique states:—
? -Reconnaissance activity in Egypt
has been more intense than for
some days. We took prisonens in
I1 patrol encounters. RAF raids on
Mersa Matruh and Tobruk caused
slight damage."
Tbe Tunes" correspondent in
the Western Desert says that Rom
mel's forces are beginning to feel
, the full weight of concentrated,
skilfully conducted air operations
These recently were considerably
increased and US fighters and
giant bombers are now operating
alongside the RAF.
The continual sinking of enemy
lighters indicates how desperately
Rommel is trying to build up tbe
Afrikakorps for a supreme trial of
strength. JDVbat percentage of
These lighters haw been sunk ft
not known. Probabto* good manr
slip through in tbe darkness, but
Rommel's need is so great that
1 manv are sent in daylight Of
these only a few reach port.
A RAAF squadron of light
bombers yesterday bit two lighten,
which are presumed to have sunk
off tbe Egyptian coast. Tbe squad
ron's total is now 17 lighters sunk
and two "probables."
RAF light bombers on Saturday
night attacked Mersa Matrub and
caused two fires. whOe bombers
and medium-bombers attacked
Tobrnk and hit a fuel installation,
a lighter, and straddled a fair-sice
ship
In the past 30 days Alhed air
forces in die Mediterranean have
sunk 27 supply lighters. Each
lighter carries 270 tons, and their
use saves considerable petrol com
pared with the road haul from
Benghazi and Tobruk. The
lightens, which are bunt in Italy,
are about ISO ft. long, and are
powered with three Diesel Mtgin^
They mount several AA guns
"Lull OmfaMNMr
The lull In the desert warfare is
ominous, says Henry J. Tmylor. a
special correspondent of tbe North
American Newspaper Alliance, who
has Just returned (ram Cairo
Constant news of the ?ceUent Bri
tish and American aerial activity
distracts attention from the basic
situation, namely, that unless Gen.
Aucbinleck is able to move west
before Rommel moves east again.
the situation is grave.
Tbf highest authorities thus ex
plain it. Bays Taylor. ???m??i ez
pected to lose aojDOO in Tobruk.
where he planned to end the first
phase of bis drive, using tbe part
as a base to reorganise and obtain
fresh supplies.
Rommel is getting supplies and
reinforcements from Greece, de
spite effective bombing.
Reuters correspondent at El Ate
mein. says that the enemy in tbe
north sector is Intensifying bis at
tempts to "shadow bos" against
the 8tb Army patrols, possibly to
divert attention from elsewhere.
Empire troops in that sector are
carrying out night foot patrols and
day mechanised patrols from tbe
extremities of the salient.
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