SITUATION UNCHANGED

Evening Star, Issue 24116, 10 February 1942, Page 5

SITUATION UNCHANGED

THE LIBYAN FRONT R.A.F. CONTINUES ATTACK (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 9. A Middle East war communique from British headquarters at Cairo states; “There is no general change in the situation. Yesterday our' patrols were active in the area of Mekili and Tengeder, while one of our mobile columns engaged enemy infantry and artillery in a position near the coast 12 miles west of El Gazala. Our air forces again operated in active support of our forward troops, and they also continued attacks on enemy lines of communication.” ENEMY ADVANCE HALTED IN STRONG DEFENSIVE POSITIONS CAIRO, February 8. Field-Marshal Rommel’s advance towards Egypt has been virtually haltedl about halfway between Derna and Tobruk. Violent sandstorms have hampered Rommel’s momentum, causing him to loosen his grip on the initiative. • _ The chief military importance of £1 Gazala, which the enemy claims to have reoccupied, lies in a number of excellent landing grounds which line the main road for several miles to the east* El Gazala also marks the point where a break in the escarpment, running well inland, affords natural defence facilities. The coastal outline and the configuration of the desert combine to present an army marching eastwards with the dilemma of attaching a narrow front to force the coastal road or performing a wide outflanking movement in the desert, where ground communications are more favourable for defence. Rommel probably considers it a race between him and us to get reinforcements into action, and the German High Command is thought to bo anxious to avoid again losing prestige and will accordingly send everything ■which it is possible to send.

THE SOUTHERN ROUTE ROMMEL'S FEELERS (Rec. 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 9. A Cairo message states that mobile columns repulsed Asia units at Tengeder, 35 miles south of Mekili. FieldMarshal Rommel is obviously feeling but the British strength on the southern route to avoid a narrow-fronted coastal assault against El Gaza»a, where the naval guns are disposed se as to assist the land artillery. Allji OPERATIONS ENEMY BASES BOMBED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 9. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: R.A.F., R.A.A.F., and S.A.A.F. bombers and fighters were in action m Cyrenaica on Sunday. Three Messerschmitt 109’s were shot down and others damaged, while at Derna two enemy; aircraft were destroyed on an aerodrome by direct hits. On Saturday night bombers attacked objectives itt Benghazi and the aerodrome at Berea., At Benghazi hits were scored on Juliana mole, and at Berea fires and_ explosions were observed. Shipping in Tripoli Harbour was also raided. In spita of a smoke screen put up by the enemy, at least three direct hits were obtained, causing a series of explosions. Other bombs burst on Spanish mole. ■ The same night the naval dockyard at Salamis, in Greece, was raided. Bombs exploded among munition factories and submarine wharves. The aerodrome at Menidi, near Athens, were also bombed, fires being seen. . Enemy aircraft continued their raida on Malta on Saturday night. There was some damage. Six of our planes are missing, but afl least two of the pilots are safe.