GIALO OASIS ATTACK

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23751, 24 September 1942, Page 5

GIALO OASIS ATTACK

BRITISH RAID ON ITALIANS ACTION FAR FROM BASES (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec 5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22. To-day’s Middle East communique gives the first official news of the desert operation by British forces against the Italian garrison at the Gialo oasis. The communique says: Our desert forces have carried a successful operation more than 500 miles behind the enemy’s front. “On the night of Sunday, September 13, Benghazi and Barce were raided, and more than 30 enemy aircraft were damaged or destroyed on the ground. Heavy casualties were inflicted _on enemy personnel and motor transport. “On the night of Tuesday, September 15 the Gialo oasis was occupied. Considerable casualties were inflicted on the enemy, and our artillery destroyed ammunition and supply dumps, our forces have now arrived back at their bases.” Italian Report A five-day attack by British forces in the Libyan desert, 500 miles west of the main British lines In Egypt, is reported in an Italian communique. The fighting occurred at the Gialo Oasis, 230 miles east-south-east or ( Benghazi. . The Italian communique says: The Italian garrison at Gialo was attacked at dawn on September 16 by numerically superior motorised and armoured forces coming in from the direction of the Sahara. Bitter fighting took place. The initial attack was repulsed, and, supported by artillery fire, the resistance of the garrison was firmly and tenaciously maintained on the following day. “The defence was also strongly supported by the repeated intervention of Italian and German air units, which inflicted heavy losses in men and materials on the enemy. “Fighting continued until yesterday, when Axis motorised columns sent to reinforce the garrisoh came on -the scene. The enemy forces then disengaged and retreated towards the south pursued and hammered by Axis aeroplanes,” There is no information In London about this reported action. “Neutral reports reveal an acute difference of opinion between Marshal Rommel and Marshal Kesselring,” says the aeronautical correspondent 1 of the “Daily Express.” “Marshal Rommel recently secretly visited Marshal Kesselring’s headquarters near Rome, where he laid a charge of inadequate air support given the Axis forces in their attack early in September. Marshal Kesselring said all available aircraft were sent to North Africa for their attack in September, when the strength of the Luftwaffe was as great as when Marshal Rommel broke through to Alamein."

INDIAN TROOPS’ CASUALTIES 84,833 MEN MISSING (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23. India’s losses in all theatres of war total 98,388, comprising 2096 killed; 8521 wounded, 2938 prisoners of war, and 84,833 missing, according to Mr C, M. G. Ogilvie, secretary of the Defence 'Department of India, in a statement to the Council of State. NEWS RESTRICTIONS IN INDIA PROTEST TO VICEROY (Rec. 1.15 a.m.) NEW DELHI, Sept, 23. Correspondents of Indian,, English, and Empire newspapers and of international news agencies have sent a memorandum,.to the Viceroy of India (Lord Linlithgpw)' complaining about restrictions on the publication and dissemination of news inside and outside India. One complaint from the agencies is that they, aije limited to two messages a day on disturbances. AMERICAN FOOD POSITION FEARS OF SHORTAGE IN 1943 (Rec. 1.15 a.m.) NEW YORK. Sept. 33. The Washington correspondent of the New York “Herald-Tribune” says a countrywide survey reveals that the immediate rationing of a wide wariety of foodstuffs, and restrictions oh the movement of key farmers from the land, are imperative if a disastrous food shortage is to be avoided in 1943, in spite of an unparalleled production of food in 1942. In addition, food specialists call lor the establishment of centralised control of food from the land to the table by a food administrator, comparable to the control over rubber. This is gaid to be necessary to consolidate the half a dozen agencies now controlling sections of production, and restricting the exodus of farm labour into the Army and war industries. Although nature has rarely been more bountiful, food demands have been unprecedented for the expanding Army, for lease-lend supplies for the Allies, and also for extra food for the American population, which is working harder and making more money than ever before.

WAGE STABILISATION IN U.S. SENATE AGREES TO GENERAL ORDER (Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 22. The United States Senate unani. mously agreed to authorise Mr Roosevelt to issue a general order by November 1, stabilising prices, wages, and salaries at the levels existing on September 15. The Senate also amended the Administration’s anti-inflation legislation bill which proposed to permit employers to reduce salaries of more than 5000 dollars a year. The latter provision is construed as a hint to Mr Roosevelt that if he desires to limit incomes to 2500 dollars a year he must take action himself. Observers believe that a bitter fight is looming both in the House and Senate on the question of stabilising farm prices. REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR ROOSEVELT (Rec. 1.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Sept. 23. A declaration of policy, demanding full and immediate utilisation by the President of the most capable and most efficient military and civilian leadership, was adopted at a conference of Republican members of Congress. The declaration reaffirmed the loyal support of the Republicans for the President in war time. They recognised the need for post-war international cooperation, and discounted any possibility of a negotiated peace.