OPERATIONS IN LIBYA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23588, 16 March 1942, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN LIBYA

BRITISH ARTILLERY ACTIVE FREE FRENCH CAPTURE ITALIAN OUTPOST (Received March 15, 8.30 p.m.) (U.P.A.-8.0.W.) LONDON, March 14. A Middle East war communique says: “Our artillery was active all day, dispersing small parties of enemymechanical transport. Reconnoitring columns made contact with soma enemy positions, in spite of" enemy shelling. “The enemy air forces were more active yesterday in the forward area and over Tobruk. Anti-aircraft defences shot down one bomber into the sea and report setting another on fire. To-day’s Middle East Royal Air Force communique says: “Air activity in Cyrenaica was on an 'increased scale on Friday. Royal Air Force fighters intercepted a strong formation of enemy bombers and fighters in the Tobruk area, and shot down one Macchi 200 and one Macchi 202. "Objectives at the Piraeus were attacked by bomber aircraft on Thursday night. Aerodromes in southern Crete were also attacked. Enemy aircraft continued to raid Malta on the same night and again on Friday, causing some damage. None of our aircraft is missing.” The news that Spitfires have been in action over Malta has been warmly received by the population of Malta, where, according to agency messages, there was only one enemy bombing raid during the 24 hours up to yesterday evening. Three Junkers 88’s. with a large fignter escort, approached the cbast in the morning at 15,000 feet, and were immediately engaged by anti-aircraft fire. Apparently because of the intense barrage, the bombers could not dive to release their bombs. Hurricanes and Spitfires were about to dive on the Junkers when they were met by a formation of Messerschmitt 109’s, Dogfights ensued in the clouds, but the enemy escaped. Free French headquarters in London reports: “Raiding operations in south Libya have 1 been continued successfully. The Italian outpost of Ualou el Kebir, south of Murzuck, has been captured by our detachments. The garrison have been taken prisoner. Important material has been seized, and munitions and petrol dumps set on fire. In the course of a raid on the aerodrome at Oum el Araneb, one of our aeorplanes destroyed- three enemy aircraft on the ground.” The Free French forces in south Libya are under the command of General Leclerc.

SHIPS ATTACKED IN PORT

U BOAT RAID IN WEST INDIES U.S. ISLAND BASE (Received March 15. 8.30 p.m.) (U.P.A.) WASHINGTON, March 14. The British authorities have disclosed that an enemy submarine attacked the harbour of Castries, on St. Lucia, in the Windward Islands, on the night of March 9, damaging two ships and causing slight casualties. The announcement did not reveal whether the U-boat fired shells or torpedoes. St. Lucia is the site of a United States defence base. The Marine Department announced to-day that seven survivors of the Norwegian tanker Pan Norway (9231 tons), sunk off Bermuda on January 26, have arrived in the United States. Thirtythreb. other survivors were taken to Lisbon. The Pan Norway was attacked by two submarines, one on each side, two.miles distant. A United States merchantman has been torpedoed in the Caribbean Sea area. An unspecified number of survivors have been landed at Puerto Rico. A Norwegian merchantman was torpedoed off the Atlantic coast. Fourteen survivors have been landed. The captain was killed and five other members of the crew are missing. A Havana message says it is authoritatively reported that the United States merchantman Texan (7000 tons) was torpedoed off the north Cuban coast. Nine of the 47 members of the crew are missing. > Santiago newspapers report that life boats bearing the name of the 2500ton United States collier Olga have arrived at a nearby port. A message from Progresso (Mexico) says that 12 survivors of the 5000-ton Norwegian freighter Gunny have landed there. Fourteen other members of the ship’s crew are missing. The ship Was sunk on’March 9 when on a voyage from New York to Africa. The survivors were picked up by a Swedish ship near Martinique.

DUTCH ESCAPE FROM BANDOENG

FIGHTING CONTINUES IN SUMATRA (Received March 15, 8.20 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 15. The Lieutenant-Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies, Dr. H. J. van Mook, who is at present in Melbourne, says most of the Dutch forces defending Bandoeng made good their escape before it fell to the Japanese. Dr. van Mook said he had received news that Dutch forces were still fighting in north and central Sumatra. He had received no report about 3000 Australians, who. when last heard of. were fighting in mountain country east and west of Bandoeng.