LULL IN LIBYA

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1942, Page 5

LULL IN LIBYA

AXIS INTENTIONS OBSCURE SOUTHERN THRUST POSSIBLE LONDON, February 10. Reports that British mobile columns have been active round Mekili and. Tengder (3 miles south-west of Mekili) are taken to suggest that the Axis forces in Libya are trying Io strike south into the desert.

A message from Cairo yesterday said that there was a general lull in land operations in Libya, and a tendency towards temporary stabilisation in the El Gazala area. RETREAT ENDED. (Recd. 12.2 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 10. According to the Vichy radio, it is believed in Rome that the British retreat in Libya has now come to an end. The Rome radio declared that the British forces are likely to establish a strong line of defence near Tobruk, possibly with reinforcements from Iran.

The radio listed the Italian casualties this year as follow: —Army North Africa , 915 killed, 1760 wounded, 9279 missing. Eastern front, 181 killed, 674 wounded, 240 missing. Navy casualties: Eighty-nine killed, 179 wounded, 316 missing. Air Force: Fifty-eight killed, 74 wounded, 25 missing. MOBILE COLUMNS ACTIVE. RUGBY, February 10. A Cairo communique states: Our patrols and mobile columns were again active over a wide area on the general line of Tmimi to Mekili, and west of Tengeder. Parties of th'.. enemy were engaged by our artillery fire, but no close fighting ensued. Our fighters continued protective action over our land operations throughout the day, while our bombers again successfully engaged targets in the rear. “WAR OF EXHAUSTION.”

(Rec. 2 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 10. Libya is likely to continue to be a perpetual no-man’s land, says the “Daily Express” correspondent in Libya. The exhausting milling up and down does not get either side effectively nearer its objectives—Cairo and Tripoli. This is a war of exhaustion out here, not a war of conquest. Before we can push Rommel . back again we must have, firstly twice his number of tanks and better ones, ana twice the number of his planes: secondly, we must have a better and faster system of getting supplies forward; thirdly, officers of at least six months' experience in the desert are essential; fourthly, the German squadrons in Sicily must be silenced. BRITISH CASUALTIES. RUGBY, February 10. The War Office spokesman stated, in the Commons, that out of 18,000 British ’soldiers killed, wounded, oi captured during the latest campaign in Libya, 2908 are known to have been killed. Major Grigg also said that British and Canadian prisoners captured at Hong Kong are being kept in camp at Kowloon. The International Rea Cross Committee had appointed a delegate in Tokio, who had been asked to report urgently on their conditions. Argentina was the protecting Power in Japan, and Switzerlana in occupied China.

VICHY INTRIGUE. RUGBY, February 10. Dr. Dalton, in the Commons, saiu that there undoubtedly had been deliveries from French North Africa tt. the enemy in Libya, of cars, lorries, wheat, wine, and olive oil. Gasoline and aviation spirit had also been reaching the enemy through Tunisia, though he was not in a position to say whether these were consigned from North Africa or France. Britain took a most-serious view of this assistance to the enemy by the Vichy authorities in North Africa, and was in most-urgent consultation with the United States, who already had made inquiries in Vichy. GERMAN MALINGERERS. RUGBY, February 9. That German soldiers are not enthusiastic about service in Libya is shown by an order issued at the beginning of September to the 21st Division of the German Afrika Korps and found on a divisional commander taken prisoner by New. Zealanders outside Tobruk in November. The order says: “A number of personnel on leave from certain units have not returned. They have contrived to obtain permission authorities at nome to remain in Germany, while sending requests to this command for an extension of leave. Others report sick at home and try to get attached to a reserve unit on discharge from hospital, or have themselves examined medically on the plea that they are unfit for tropical service. , , , “Some procedure must be adoptco. to deal with this malingering. Accordingly, it is laid down that henceforth a special inquiry will be neld into the case of every man not returning from leave on time. Severe penalties will be inflicted on anybody found guilty and he win be reported to Divisional Headquarters. Disciplinary action will be taken in Germany against the men who did not return to Africa. In this connection malingerers must be punished ruthlessly.”

R.A.F. ACTIVITIES

RUGBY, February 10

An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: Fighter aircraft carried out a series of offensive sweeps over the forward areas in Cyrenaica, yesterday. Enemy aircraft were engaged whenever met, and one JUBB, one Heinkel 111, and one Messerschmitt 109 were shot down, without loss to our own aircraft. , It is now learned that, on February 8, anti-aircraft guns shot down a Messerschmitt 109 in the battle area. Chemical works at Piraeus and oil storage tanks at Drapetsona were effectively raided by our aircraft on Sunday night. None of our aircraft is missing. FRENCH SHIPS AID AXIS. NEW YORK, February 9. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that the British Ambassador (Lord Halifax) has presented Mr Sumner Welles. United States Assistant Secretary of State, with detailed evidence that French ships carried French materials from French North Africa to Marshal von Rommel’s forces for tITe present counter-attack against the British in Libya. Lord Halifax also discussed what action could be taken to prevent Admiral Decoux, the French Commander in the Far East, transferring French ships to Japan for a large-scale invasion of the Netherlands East Indies, now being undertaken. ENEMY CONVOYS ATTACKED.

LONDON, February 10. More heavy blows have been struck by British submarines at Axis shipping in the Mediterarnean, in three successful attacks on enemy convoys. One large and heavily laden supplyship was torpedoed and sunk. A medium-sized supply-ship, escorted by destroyers, was torpedoed, and almost certainly sunk. In another convoy, heavily escorted bv warships, a hit was scored with a

lorpedo on one ship, but the result is not known.

RAIDS ON MALTA

RUGBY, February 10

A Malta message states: Enemy air activity in the past 24 hours has been light. On Monday, there was slight damage caused to civilian property, and some people were killed and injured. On Monday night, single enemy bombers damaged houses, but there were no casualties. On Tuesday, bombs were dropped, killing a few persons and injuring several others. VICTORIA CROSS WON TANK CAPTAIN’S GALLANTRY RUGBY. February 10. The King has approved the award of the Victoria Cross to Captain P. J. Gardner, M.C., of the Royal Tank Regiment. „ J ; On November 23, 1941, Captain Gardner was ordered to take two tanks to assist two armoured cars of the King’s Dragoon Guards, which were out of action and under fire in close proximity to the enemy southwest of Tobruk. He found the cars halted 200 yards apart. They were being fired on at close'range, and gradually smashed to pieces. Ordering the other tank to give him covering fire, Captain Gardner manoeuvred his own close to the foremost car. He then dismounted in face of intense anti-tank and machine-gun fire, and secured a tow-rope to tne car. Seeing an officer lying beside it with his legs blown off, he lifted him into the car. The tow-rope broke, and Captain Gardner returned to the armoured car. being immediately wounded in the arm and leg. Despite his wounds, he lifted the other officer out of the car and carried him back to the tank, placing him on the back of the engine louvres, and climbing alongside to hold him on. While the tank was being driven back to safety it was subjected to heavy shellfire, and the leader was killed. The courage, determination, and complete disregard for his own safety displayed by Captain Gardner enabled him, despite his own wounds and in the face of intense fire at close range, to save the life of his fellow-officer, in circumstances of great difficulty and danger. The Victoria Cross awarded to Brigadier Campbell was given 'to him by General Auchinleck, at a special parade in Cairo. General Auchinleck, addressing the troops, said: “The reputation of the Seventh Armoured Division needs no tributes. Its name is second to none for valour and skill, as in the past. The job is not finished yet.”