NEW LIBYAN WAR SEASON

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 295, 10 September 1941, Page 7

NEW LIBYAN WAR SEASON

Both Sides Prepare EFFECT OF TOLL OF AXIS CONVOYS (British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) September 9, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, September 8. The achievements of British submarines in the' Mediterranean, which have been prominent lately, illustrate the determined efforts by the Axis to maintain their communications with Libya and reinforce the North African armies in face of the British attempts to interrupt the sea route and weaken the enemy forces on the western side of Egypt..; Both sides are evidently aiming at obtaining a more favourable position before the campaigning season starts. “The Times” observes: —

“In a sea where summer generally favours the defence rather than the submarine, no escort has proved strong enough to deter our submarines from the attack. The Italian cruiser which was torpedoed on- August 24 was one of three escorted by six destroyers and a squadron of flying-boats. The liner Esperial was escorted by destroyers, torpedo-boats, and flying-boats, but that did not save her from being sunk off Tripoli itself. Two-to-one Chance?

“These incidents are but two of the much larger number reported in the last week or two.. Two other large liners besides the Esperial were hit by torpedoes while sailing in convoy, and one, believed to have been the Duilio, of 23,600 tons, was almost certaiuly sunk. The Duilio was one of a convoy of three, and if the troops sent in the largest and fastest transports stand only a two-to-one chance of getting across without being torpedoed the effect on their morale must be discouraging. “However, the enemy is getting a gieat deal of what he sends to Libya through to the destination, so the return of the campaigning season may find the Axis forces stronger than before summer. The enemy has evidently strained every nerve to strengthen them, even, accepting losses which might well have been prohibitive aud may yet prove to have been a decisive factor.” The Istanbul correspondent of “The Times” says that information from various quarters indicates that the Italians, fearing a British attack from Egypt, are doing their utmost to reinforce their troops in Libya, and appealed for German assistance. This apparently was the chief object of Signor Mussolini’s visit to Herr Hitler, ■but it did not receive much encouragement. The German staff are reported to have categorically informed the Italians that Germany is unable to provide further assistance except by air from Greece and Crete. For this purpose and presumably in connexion with other Axis plans for south-eastern Europe, the Germans have been feverishly active in rhe last few weeks, enlarging and re-equippiug lhe Greek and Cretan aerodromes. About 60 German Condor bombers arrived at Greek aerodromes.

LATEST ATTACKS

Planes Bomb Enemy Ships And Land Targets (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 8. A Royal Air Force (Middle East) communique states that the Fleet Air Arm successfully attacked a Mediterranean convoy of three medium-sized merchantmen protected by three destroyers on the night of September 0-7. One merchantman was hit three times, causing violent explosions and mucn black smoke. The vessel was compelled to stop, and listed heavily to port. Another ship, a tanker, was hit by two torpedoes and severely damaged. „ .. t An Air Ministry bulletin says that the incident occurred in the narrow gap between PanteUaria and Sicily. Great confusion was caused to the enemy in the attack. At about the same time as the convoy was being attacked, another Fleet Air Arm aircraft was near the end of a brisk night’s work. This aircraft took off before midnight for Sicily, but developed symptoms of engine trouble, and so dropped its bombs on Gomiso, and returned to its base- I- 1 ® crew stepped into another aircraft and flew back to Sicily, dived on and ma-chine-gunned three enemy aircraft and a machine-gun post at Catania, ilew to Gerbinl, and machine-gunned and bagged three more aircraft on the ground there, dropped bombs and started fires, and then returned home to make their report. On the same night a heavy R.A.B. raid on Benghazi resulted in a number of direct hits on military stores and adjacent buildings. Barce and Berka were also attacked, and buildings on a road south of Cyrene n ere machine-gunned. . While this raid was being carried out the Fleet Air Arm made a senes cf attacks on landing grounds at EL Tmimi, El Gazala, Martuba, and BI Adem. Enemy gun positions east ot tne Tobruk defences came in for a severe bombardment from the South African Air Force. . . . .. One aircraft is missing from all these operations.