LITTLE CHANGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 24, 29 January 1942, Page 7

LITTLE CHANGE

LIBYAN CAMPAIGN

RECENT FIGHTING REVIEWED

(Rec. noon.) RUGBY, Jan. 23. A Middle East Cairo communique states that the situation generally in Libya remains unaltered,. With the conclusion of what may be the first phase of the present operations it is now possible to give a clearer picture of the fighting which has taken place in the last week. For seven days highly-mobile German columns operated with skill and determination over a wide area from El Agheila to Msus, their main axis of advance being along the road joining these places. During this phase heavy going caused by abnormal rain, together with the fluid character of the fighting, made it impossible for us to concentrate in any one area, and the operations resolved into a series of engagements between the enemy's columns and ours, which fought withj equal tenacity. LOCAL INITIATIVE. Exploiting his initial success on j January 21-22, when strong columns | penetrated our light screen and reoccupied Jedabaya, the enemy regained the local initiative in this area. Enemy trottps are in Msus, and our mobile columns and patrols are in touch with the enemy on a general line from Solluk to just north-east of Msus, with patrols well forward to the south.

Throughout the operations, the cooperation of our air forces has been magnificent. Day after day and also at night a heavy toll has been taken of enemy vehicles. January 26 was a particularly successful day for our bombers and our fighters, which returned again and again to the attack. Great havoc was observed amongst enemy mechanised transport between Antelat and Msus. Enemy columns at Antelat and about Msus itself were successfully engaged.—B.O.W.