INDIANS HOLD UP VON ROMMEL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23554, 4 February 1942, Page 5

INDIANS HOLD UP VON ROMMEL

Rearguard Action East of Barce CHOICES BEFORE BRITISH (Received February 3, 11.40 p.m.) (U.P.A.-8.0.W.) LONDON, Feb, 3 Marshal von Rommel’s advance through the hilly country of Jebel Akdar—roughly the area in the triangle formed by Barce, Mekili, and Derna—appears to have been to some extent slowed down by the 4th Indian Division, which is fighting a rearguard i action at selected points along the main roads. The military correspondent of “The Times" says that General Sir Claude Auchinleck. the British Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East, must either counter-attack Marshal von Rommel or withdraw further. There is no prospect, he declares, of making a stand in the present position. “The 4th Indian Division, which is conducting its withdrawal in the Jebel Akdar area east of Barce, is in close contact with the enemy, who is following up this movement in consider-

able strength,” says the latest communique from British General Headquarters in Cairo, issued yesterday. “On January 31, at Maraua, the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade carried out a successful counter-attack In which many casualties were inflicted on the enemy. Yesterday the same brigade again counter-attacked and checked the enemy in the Slonta area. tSlonta is 50 miles east of Barce], “In the area north-east of El Msus our mobile columns continue their offensive activity. Yesterday an enemy mechanised column was engaged and four vehicles were captured with some prisoners. (‘Throughout the course of yesterday's operations, our air forces continued to render effective support to the operations on land, while our bombers, during the night of January 31-February 1, attacked mechanised transport columns in the area of El Agheila-Agedabia, starting a number of fires. “The 7th Indian Infantry Brigade, which was covering Benghazi before our evacuation of the town ■ and port, has now returned to its base in eastern' Cyrenaica, almost intact as regards fighting personnel. Break-Through To South “During the night of January 28-29, when the decision, to evacuate Benghazi was taken after the encirclement of the area by strong Axis forces, this brigade decided to break out to the south. This operation was successfully carried out in the face of abnormally difficult conditions. Surrounded by German and Italian tank formations, strongly supported by motorised infantry, the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade boldlv broke through, inflicting casualties and taking prisoners in the course of their march over 200 miles of desert in most of which enemy columns were operating. “The necessary engineer and other units to carry out the prearranged demolition programme in Benghazi had, perforce, to be left behind at that place and it is feared that they were unable to effect their withdrawal.” The Royal Air Free communique issued yesterday says: “Enemv supply colums in the Misurata. El Agheila, and Agcdabia areas were effectively bombed by our aircraft during Saturday night. A number of vehicles were seen to have been blown up and many others were seriously damaged. Several petrol lorries were set on fire. During Sunday our fighters maintained i patrols throughout the day and enemy transport, whenever it was seen, was machine-gunned. Tripoli was raided on Saturday night and many hits were obtained on a motor transport depot where fires were started. One heavy bomb, which 1 hit the Spanish fort, caused a violent explosion. On the same night other bombers attacked some enemy naval vessels at Buerat El Hsun. One of two mei chant vessels, which were torpedoed by naval aircraft during Fri- ' day night, was again sighted on the ' following night. It was stationary and on fire. “Malta was again raided bv (he enemy on Saturday night, There wore some damage and a small number of casulties. From all these operations none of our aircraft is missing.” Convicts Offer Lives.—Thirteen of the toughest prisoners in San Quentin Penitentiary have offered to form a “suicide squad” to fight against the Japanese, The men, most of whom are i serving life imprisonment, made this t offer in a radio session broadcast \ from the prison. They have also peti- c tioned Mr Roosevelt, asking him to le' I them sacrifice their lives for their ; country. The prisoners suggested that \ (hey could man torpedo-boats and sail’l them into the sides of enemy war- c ships,-—San Francisco, February 2. It