SWIFT SWEEP IN LIBYA

Evening Star, Issue 23818, 24 February 1941, Page 8

SWIFT SWEEP IN LIBYA

AUSTRALIANS GIG FART Win OF THE CAVALRY One of the most amazing stories ol the advances across C.vrenaica from Dcrua to Benghazi is that of an Australian cavalry squadron commanded by a major from Camden (wrote the acting official Commonwealth war correspondent on February 11). This squadron has worked wonders, having fought in every action from Bardin onwards, and ultimately provided the first troops to enter Benghazi township. Using eight Australian-built carriers, and 16 British carriers, they arrived at Benghazi with 19 still intact, having covered thousands of miles since taking the road at Alexandria in mid-Do-cemhcr. The squadron also fought at Tobruk in captured Italian tanks, and arrived at Benghazi with one of them. “ For five days after the fall of Derna, wo were the vanguard of the Australian advance,” said the major tonight, “ The afternoon Derna fell, we wont into Giovanni Barta, keeping touch with the enemy rearguards ail day. The following day wo drove on, capturing the towns of Luigi do Savoia and Cirene. MACHINE-GUNS CAPTURED. “ At Cirone we wore hold up by a bridge over a wadi which had been blown up. Wo were still in contact with the enemy, hut drove on over rough country and captured two truck loads of machine-guns. That day we took 500 prisoners. “ Next morning wo reconnoitred to the coast towards Apollonia. Wo couldn't drive into the town, but walked the last three miles, and hoisted a small Australian flag in the main square. All these towns were packed with civilians who greeted us warmly, as the Libyans were out of hand and were looting. “On the following morning the squadron split, one section driving along the road nearest the coast to Luigi Razzn, with infantry following, and the other taking the more southern road to Slonta. We spent the rest of the day driving out in front of the infantry, cleaning up rearguard and strongposts. It was essentially cavalrywork. and the men revelled in it. “ At Technis, the enemy ambushed some of our troops, and as they still seemed to bo in some strength at dark., my men formed a road-lock all night. We sent out flanking patrols and the enemy retreated towards Benghazi, about seven miles away. I had instructions not to proceed beyond this point, ■and waited for the infantry to come up. CAPITULATION DEMANDED, “ About 4 p.m, the brigadier arrived and ordered nYe to take into the town letters demanding its capitulation. Four of us set off in a carrier with a white flag of truce showing. We wore met at tho outskirts by two special constables, who took ns to police headquarters and then to the mayor. “ All this time, shots were being fired by the remaining Italian soldiers at Arabs who were looting all over the. town. Many fires were burning. The rifle fire was often heavy. The mayor gave ns a letter from Marshal Graziani, and we suggested- that he (the mayor) should follow us back to Benina and hand over the town, which he did. “By this time it was getting dark, and, heading back along the road, we met an Italian tank with its crew out on the road. They had abandoned it. Next morning—our sixth day out from Derna—we set off south [n pursuit of Italian troops, but when we had gone about 60 kilos word came up that armoured forces had cut off their retreat, capturing 170 first-dass tanks and about 2,(XX) vehicles. LIVED ON COUNTRY. “ During tho whole drive we averaged about 100 miles a day and took more than 1,100 prisoners. We were dead beat, but it was great fun. I can’t say enough for my men or our carriers. We literally lived on the country, ‘ scrounging ’ food and petrol as we wont along. “ Daylight on the fourth day found us on the move again, in pusuit of the enemy. Again we were delayed by the road being blown up, and this necessitated a two-mile detour. _ Late that day we reached Bare© with the infantry not far behind. The men following the top road from Luigi llazza readied there about the same time, having also been delayed by blown roads.

“ Next morning we joined forces and moved down through green and colonised country to El Abiar. Here the escarpment comes down to the coastal plain, and we drove to Benina, which is a huge airport. We filled tank ob-

stacles as test we could, and reached Benina, where a small enemy patrol gave sharp resistance.”