LIBYAN CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 24096, 17 January 1942, Page 7

LIBYAN CAMPAIGN

SLOW ADVANCE IN SOUTH CONSIDERABLE ENEMY AIR ACTIVITY NEGLIGIBLE RESULTS OBTAINED (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph— Copyright (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, Jan. 16. A communique issued by headquarters at Cairo to-day states that _ little change was reported yesterday in the Agheila area. Our mobile columns near the coast are slowly moving forward against stiff opposition over country heavily mined. Tho enemy again developed considerable air activity against our forward troops, but as the result of our tighter protection, tho damage and losses sustained were negligible. Our Ari Forces continue attacks on the enemy lines of communication. In the Halfaya area Free French forces arrived to take part in the operations. Artillery on both sides was again active. GERMAN AIR STRENGTH CONCENTRATIONS IN ITALY INTERVENTION IN LIBYAN BATTLE (Rec. 11.42 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 16. Considerable German air strength is now concentrated in Italy with a view to intervening in the battle of Libya or an attack against Malta, says the Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper, ‘ Social Demokratens.’ Another Berlin source states that the military authorities consider the situation in Cyrenaica has improved _in favour of the Axis, and expect stabilisation of General Rommel’s front following an improvement in supplies, due to the extensive action of U-boats in the Mediterranean. STRONGLY ENTRENCHED ENEMY FORCES AT AGHEILA ALLIED BOMBERS BUSY LONDON, January 16. The British forces are gradually closing in on Fd Agheila, where General Rommel’s German and Italian forces hold one of the strongest positions they have occupied since the retreat in Libya began seven weeks ago. The British troops are hampered in their advance by extremely difficult conditions. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “The Free French and R.A.F. bombers and R.A.F. fighters continued their attack on objectives at Halfaya yesterday. They scored direct hits on gun emplacements and an ammunition dump, while fighters effectively ma-chine-gunned enemy motor transport. In the El Agheila area, South African Air Force and R.A.A.F. fighters were again active. During Tuesday night our bombers attacked a column of enemy motor transport west of El Agheila, causing many explosions. “ In the Central Mediterranean yesterday our bombers attacked an enemy supply ship which was escorted by destroyers. Clouds of smoke were seen coming from the ship after the attack had been pressed home. “ Enemy aircraft raided Malta during Tuesday night and again yesterday, causing some damage to civilian property. In daylight raids our fighters intercepted enemy formations and damaged a number, which, however, escaped into cloud. From these and other operations, nine of our aircraft are missing, but four of our pilots are safe.” An Agency correspondent with the Eighth Army in Libya reports that rearguard actions are being fought 30 miles inland in the vicinity of Mersa Brega, where General von Rommel is organising a new centre of resistance, with a reinforced air force, which is being further increased. The Axis forces, the correspondent says, appear to be waiting for a British onslaught from the south. General Rommel still has a number of tanks at bis disposal, but there is no confirmation that he received any new ones through Tripoli. It is known, however, that lie is using small types of tanks, which even tho Ersatz-Italian panzer division discarded long ago. Italian and Gorman soldiers used a mosque near Bardia for living quarters and a hide-out from British planes, says the ‘ Exchange Telegraph’s ’ correspondent with the Eighth Army. Tables in the mosque were found strewn with the remains of food and equipment, and the floor and walls were blackened by fires lit within the mosque, which has no chimneys.

TEMPORARY STANDSTILL ROMMEL REINFORCED LONDON, Jan. 16. The battle of Libya has reached a temporary standstill with the enemy standing on prepared positions between El Agheila and Marada, says the Cairo eonesponuont of the 1 Daily Telegraph.’ After obtaining considerable air reinforcements as well as tanks, General Rommel at present is in the most favourable position for resistance since he fell back from Gazala. In addition, for the first time since the beginning of the battle the enemy is enabled to take the offensive in the air. British transport is inevitably feeling the strain of the long advance, and our activities are affected by the considerably greater distances over which fuel must be transported. There seems little likelihood of the Eighth Army immediately launching a major assault against the enemy line, particularly because the R.A.F. continues successfully to concentrate against the enemy supply route through Tripoli. The enemy’s ceaseless onslaught against Malta provides proof of the embarrassment that the planes based on Malta are causing both the Italians and Germans.

HALFAYA STRONG POINT OF RESISTANCE. Desperate lighting has boon in progress for 4S hours in the Mersa Brega area, on the coast of the Gulf of Sirte, about 30 miles north-east of El Agheila.

Mersa Brega is an area ideal for defence and German resistance to delay the British columns. The British columns in the Marada area, however, are sweeping forward. The German rearguard continues to put up a strenuous resistance, but is suffering heavily. Some actions have been long drawn out, but at other times British Guards units have quickly routed the Germans with the bayonet.

General Rommel is desperately striving to reorganise his remaining forces, biit it is believed be has not been very successful. His tank forces, in spite of reinforcements, are no longer formidable. General Rommel has pressed into service the small Mark I. German tank, hitherto considered tit only for protecting lines of communication or training, ns = well as the Italian two-man tanks, which are useless against the British tanks.

Meanwhle, although the ultimate fall of Ha If ay a is certain, there is little sign of an immediate British assault on the enemy’s positions, which are extremely strong and mostly dominating the besiegers’ positions. Exports are of the opinion that Halfaya is the strongest position the British have yet faced in Africa, except Keren and Gondar, and for this reason the defenders will pin down considerable British forces, and in addition a long detour in the transporting of supplies wostward will he necessary. Tlalfaya’s defenders must now depend on the aeroplane. which nightly flies from Greece and drops from two to three tons of food by parachute. Several packages have fallen into the British lines.