Evening star., 1942-07-14
Germans Gain in Vo|go Drive
As Reds Fall Back Fighting;
Axis Attack RepeI|ed in E Egypt
Raj Strikes Enemy
Heavily in Spite
Of Sundstorms

BY the Associated Press.
CAIRO, July 14.-Axis armored
forces have been repulsed in
another eastward lunge on the
Egyptian corridor battle front
and the enemy has been hit
heavily by the RAF despite desert
sandstorms, British headquarters
announced today.
The enemy attacked with tanks
and truck borne infantry at the
coastal end of the battle line west
of Ell Alamien yesterday, COM
munique said, and there was contact
also between opposing columns in
land, on the southern end of the
line, but there was no indication
which side was on the offensive
there.
As the land front f1ared back into
action, Britain harried the Axis
Mediterranean supply lines, trying
with the great guns of her fleet
and far-ranging bombers of the
Raj to choke off reinforcements for
the enemy and whittle down his re-
serves of machines and supplies,
Air Activity Intensified.
"Air activity was intensified In
the battle area" said the joint re-
port of British headquarters and
the RAF.
Our fighters, fighter -bombers and
light bombers attacked landing
grounds in the Ell Daba area, a
column of tanks and large concen-
trations of vehicles.
"All attacks were successful, some
tanks being destroyed and at least
six enemy aircraft were shot down
in addition to others destroyed on
the ground"
All these air operations, including
a battle over Malta yesterday in
which at least five enemy raiders
were destroyed and others dam
aged, cost the British only one
plane.
Tobruk Singled Out.
One by one Britain's air and sea
arms picked off the ports behind
Nazi Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
whence he might get more men
and material to tip the balance on
the deadlocked front and put his
stalled drive on Alexandria back In
motion.
When Matruh, the Axis most ad-
vanced supply port barely 200 miles
back, literally was knocked out by
British naval planes and warships
which flung TOO shells in the harbor,
the Axis had to look 200 miles far
ther westward to Tobruk as the
nearest point where any considera-
BILE supplies could be landed.
But Tobruk. itself an almost daily
target for the RAF, next was singled
out for a bomb minute" raid for
three straight hours by Britain's
heavy four -motored bombers.
A communique last night said di-
rect hits were scored on ships in
the port and on dock installations.
(Reports in Ankara, Turkey,
said the Germans were rushing
occupation troops from Greece
and reserves from the Russian
front to Marshal Rommeps aid
from Greek ports to Tobruk,
along with conveys of mecha-
nized equipment.
CThe Raj announcement last
Saturday that it had shot down
IL big Nazi transport planes over
the Mediterranean indicated that
Axis reinforcements also were be-
ing flown to North Africa)
Seas COmbed for Conveys.
Still farther back, the British are
combing the seas with warships and
submarines to intercept Axis con-
voys while Allied aircraft are pound
ing Bengasi, the enemy's main Al
rican base.
Naval aircraft. which started the
wrecking job at Matruh in the pre-
dawn darkness Sunday, have been
more active bombing Axis supply
depots than ever before in the des-
ert struggle.
The navy flyers, most of them
veterans of the war in the Medi-
terranean, are using fighters built
in the United States.
The British warships swept In
close to shore at Matruh in Sun
days pre-dawn darkness and sent
salvo after salvo into the harbor
Naval aircraft had proceeded the
warships' assault with violent raid
on the Axis anchorage, scoring a
direct hit on an ammunition ship
Guns of the feet finished this ship
off while the naval pilots pressed
their own attack on the port.
ut was magnificent sight," sale
one naval airman who was aloft
at the time of the bombardmen'
from the sea. THE navy knocked
hell out of the place"
This was the first time the fee
had found An opportunity and ar
adequate target ashore for its gun!
since the battle for Egypt began
and it struck with vengeance a.
Matruh which is only ITO mile!
from Alexandria, its menaced mair
base.
The devastation at Matruh was 81
(See EGYPT, Page A-3)