FLYING FORTRESSES STRIKE AT ROMMEL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 11, 14 January 1943, Page 5

FLYING FORTRESSES STRIKE AT ROMMEL

DESTROY 20 PLANES 14 Messerschmitts Shot Down In Dogfights N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 13. Flying Fortresses based in North Africa struck a heavy blow against Rommel when they raided Castel Benito, 10 miles south of Tripoli and destroyed 20 planes on the § round and scored direct hits on uildings, a row of which were destroyed. The Fortresses also shot down 14 Messerschmitts 109 without loss in a running fight for 75 miles. Reuters Algiers correspondent says that details of the raid against Castel Benito show that the Flying Fortresses, besides shooting down 14 Messerschmitts, damaged 10 others. About 30 Messerschmitts were engaged in the action. Lightnings operating between Gabes and Tripoli shot up a moored seaplane and also destroyed 50 trucks in a motor convoy and five lorries laden with Axis soldiers in a second motor convoy. R.A.F. Bisley bombers, between Tunis and Susa, without loss to themselves, destroyed or set on fire many trucks among convoys taking supplies to the Axis lines. Eighth Army Infiltrating Morocco radio stated - that the Eighth Army was daily infiltrating into the Axis defensive positions at Wadi Zemzem. General Montgomery was taking all precautions to ensure a quick advance and the R.A.F. was keeping up its attacks against the fleeing remnants of the Afrika Korps. Only patrol activity is reported from

Northern Tunisia. Each side is seeking to discover the other's strength. The weather continues bad. There has been considerable Allied air activity. French Camel Corps General Leclerc's forces in Fezzan, also French Camel Corps troops on his left flank, are continuing their rapid advance. They are in constant touch, although 250 miles apart. Morocco radio, referring to General Leclerc's conquest of Fezzan, said General Leclerc has insufficient forces for the drive to Tripoli and Ghadames. There is no question of his nomad detachments tackling Rommel's or Nehring's armoured forces. A fast-moving French native camel corps travelling along the frontier Of Tripolitania and French Africa, parallel with General Leclerc's forces, has taken Fort Charlet, which is approximately on the same level as Murzuk, between 200 and 300 miles to the west. This is in the zone which the French had to demilitarise under the armistice terms and French cavalry units are now harrying the Axis outposts there all along the frontier area. / The camel corps covers 35 to 60 miles daily. General Leclerc will have the advantage of more of his men roaming on the Tunisian border as he travels farther north. "Patrol activity was continued yesterday, otherwise there is nothing to report from the land forces," sayS the Middle East communique. "Although sandstorms hindered air operations in the battle area yesterday, five enemy fighters were destroyed in combat. Tripoli and Homs were successfully attacked on Monday night. Yesterday targets on Crete, Sicily and Lampedusa Island were attacked by light bombers and fighter-bombers. Two of our aircraft were lost, but the pilots are safe." Enemy Bombers Attacked R.A.F. and South African fighters engaged a large formation of enemy bombers which attacked our forward landing grounds in Tripolitania yesterday, states a Cairo message. Four Macchi's 200 and one Messerschmitt 109 were shot down and others damaged for the loss of two, but the pilots are both safe. One was picked up at sea. Throughout the day activity over the battle area was limited owing to stormy weather. Medium bombers attacked an ordnance depot and repair buildings and on the same night, Monday, they swept the road east and west of the town and attacked barracks. Six large fires were started and transport set on fire. Four-engined heavy bombers attacked the important junction of Tahuna Gate, just outside Tripoli. In a daylight raid on Crete yesterday the targets were Sphakis on the south coast and Maleme aerodrome. AXIS TALKS HITLER AND ANTONESCU Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 13. The German news agency stated that Hitler received the Prime Minister of Rumania, General Antonescu at his headquarters. It is reported that their talks covered all questions Concerning the military effort of the two nations and complete unanimity of view was established on the waging of the war against the common foe. ARRESTED IN N. AFRICA British Official Wireless Rec. 11 a.m. WASHINGTON, Jan. 13. The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, has announced that Charles Bedaux, former friend of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, has been arrested in French North Africa. At the end of September a cable stated that 250 Americans in France had been , handed to the Germans for internment. ■ Among the many in custody was Charles Bedaux, in whose Chateau de Cade, riear Tours, the Diake and Mrs. Simpson were married.