CAMPAIGN IN LIBYA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23541, 20 January 1942, Page 5

CAMPAIGN IN LIBYA

Skirmishes Near El Agheila AXIS PREPARES FOR BATTLE January 19, 11.30 p.m.) tU.P.A.) LONDON, January 18. Although British advanced armoured forces now half encircle the Axis forces in their marsh-protected position near El Agheila, little fighting is occurring apart from patrol skirmishes, reports Reuter's correspondent with the Bth Army. The Germans in the last few day-.’ have gradually been withdrawing to a position where they are less exposed to British patrols. General von Rommel is also landing a certain amount of supplies apd reinforcements in sheltered coves westward of El Agheila, and as many as three small ships were observed at one time in one of these coves The unloading operations are strongly protected by German and Italian fighters and powerful anti-aircraft defences, but the Royal Air Force is delivering constant, vigorous attacks. To-day’s communique from British General Headquarters in Cairo says: "Except for enemy troops cast of El Agheila, in which area there was no change in the situation yesterday, ail the remaining Axis forces have been cleared out of Egypt and Cyrenaica with the fall of Halfaya. Generals de Georgis and Buttuluocoe, respectively commanding and second-in-command of the 55th Division, surrendered at Halfaya. The surrender was unconditional and included the handing over intact of numerous guns of all calibres and quantities of war material which had been accumulated within the strongly prepared defences in this area.” 2000 Germans Taken It is estimated that 2000 of the 5500 prisoners taken at Halfaya are Germans. Two Italian generals were taken prisoner at Halfaya. This brings the total to 79 Italian generals now, prisoners of war. Twenty-three were captured in the first Libyan campaign, three so far in the present campaign, and 53 in East Africa. Both German and Italian communiques admit the fall of Halfaya, The Italian communique says the garrison was deprived for three days of all supplies. There was no water, even for the wounded. Although shortage of water and food contributed to the surrender of Halfaya, there is no doubt that the greatest effect was produced by the British artillery and air bombardment. Axis prisoners are described by a correspondent as being without exception in the greatest distress. Many were so weak that they were unable to march more than a mile or two without collapsing. Most of the prisoners were young, picked troops. An eye-wutness said: “They did not have even a squeak left. All they did was to grab the food we gave and wolf it down. Thdy may have been crack troops once, but 1 would not have given twopence for the lot of them. “Looked Wretched” “I had never seen such wretched looking soldiers. On reaching us they slumped on the ground, some sobbing, while others lifted their hands towards us and asked for food and water. “Many of the Germans were suffering badly from shell shock and a proportion collapsed while being taken to their cage and had to be carried to lorries. “Good-natured South Africans handed out their own rations to prisoners, who wolfed down bully beef like animals. Many were so thirsty their their hands had to be prised away from water bottles.” However serious the water situation was. there is no evidence that food supplies were anything like approaching exhaustion, though it appears the garrison was down to a single meal a day. In short, Halfaya fell early and inexpensively because the British applied artillery and air superiority ruthlessly and thereby saved the lives of countless infantry. Air Attacks on Halfaya A picture of the deadly effectiveness of the air attacks on Halfaya before the Axis forces there surrendered is given by a press correspondent with the Middle East forces, who writes; "A Free French squadron—the Lorraine Squadron —since its formation two months and a half ago has carried out more than 400 sorties and missions. For the last two weeks from sunrise to sunset aeroplanes have pounded Halfaya at short intervals, bombing machine-gun nests, depots, convoys, and concrete dug-outs. ‘‘At first the German air defences were lively and accurate, but during the last two weeks the almost incessant ground strafing by Royal Air Force fighters had been so effective that the Germans were barely able to get out of their dug-outs. They were so disgusted that they only used their anti-aircraft guns in the early morning, giving the Free French and their Blenheims ample time to adjust their bombing and allow them to score the highest percentage of direct hits.” The latest communique from the Royal Air Force in the Middle East says: “During yesterday our fighter aircraft were active over the forward areas of Libya. Enemy motor transport vehicles on the road between En Nofilia and Mersa el Auegia were successfully attacked, many trucks being damaged, others set on fire and casualties inflicted on enemy personnel. “Other fighters intercepted a Junkers 88 north-east of Tobruk and shot it down into the sea in flames. On Friday our fighters shot down a Messerschmitt 110 in the same area and off Benghazi a Junkers 88 • was destroyed. “From these and other operations all our aircraft returned safely.”

PLANS TO ATTACK MALTA

German Personnel In Italian Warships “ OFFICERS BEADY TO TAKE OVER” LONDON. January 19. Hitler insisted that German naval officers take charge of Italian warships before any attack is made against Malta. This was passed on to Admiral Riccardi by Grand-Admiral Raeder when the two Axis naval chiefs conferred recently, says the Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” German staff officers and gunnery and navigating officers for all ships down to destroyers and submarines are being drafted to the Mediterranean to organise co-operation between the Italian fleet and the Axis air forces. Hundreds of officers from bottled-up ships like the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen are already in Italian ports ready to take over, he adds. Reports from Malta slate that an enemy bomber was attacked by Royal Air Force fighters on Saturday evening and crashed in the sea. Another raiding bomber crashed on land early on Sunday morning and blew im. Four alerts were sounded on Sunday for a number of aircraft, the majority of which crossed the coast. Bombs were dropped and slight damage to civilian property was caused. One person was killed.