HALFAYA PRISONERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 86, 22 January 1942, Page 5

HALFAYA PRISONERS.

FINAL TOTAL OF 5526 REPORTED. LARGE QUANTITIES OF GUNS (Rec. 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 21. The final count of prisoners at Haifaya reaches 5526, according to a Cairo communique, which states: “A blinding sandstorm. which raged throughout the frontier districts of western Cyrenaica yesterday restricted our activities both on the ground and in the air. These conditions, which are the worst that have obtained for a decade alternate between severe sandstorms and heavy rain. Owing to the ‘ rain many areas on the enemy’s front have temporarily been turned into impassable marshes. This has enabled him to heavily mine the restricted intervening areas, thus hampering the movement of troops. “Collection of equipment and war material in the Halfaya area is continuing. In addition to quantities of other pieces of lesser calibres and large stocks of material of all categories 16 German and 44 Italian field medium and heavy dual-purpose guns have been taken over in first-class condition. “The final count of Italian prisoners in the Halfaya area is: Officers 178, other ranks 3222.” British Official Wireless.