ROMMEL PREPARING

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1942, Page 6

ROMMEL PREPARING

NEW PUSH IN LIBYA. CAIRO, February 16. Marshal von Rommel is now be- . lieved to be preparing a new push against the Imperial Army’s positions between El Gazala and Tobruk. Rom- . mel has had eleven days in which to bring up supplies, and it is thought that he may be ready now for an attempt to outflank the Imperial Army s line southwards of El Gazala. Rommel’s air activity suggests that he has learned a lesson from last Jan- , vary, when he advanced for nine days without air support, at heavy cost ol ‘"S’ correspondent at Cairo says that while no heavy fighting is yet takjn« place in the Western Deseit, the activities of patrols are daily ip,creasin" in a large area south ot Gazaia. The enemy are indulging in consid- , erable shelling, making it evident that Rommel is endeavouring to teel tne strength of our forces from north to south, in an attempt to deliver an attack, probably with his entire forces. - PATROL ENGAGEMENTS RUGBY, February 16. A Cairo communique states: Throughout yesterday, enemy columns ‘ containing armoured vehicles were in contact with our patrols over a wide front from the coastal area west of Gazala to about 40 miles south of that place. There was a fair amount of shelling on both sides, but no close encounters took place. Our fighters and bombers effectively engaged the enemy, both by lowfiying attacks and bombing. SENUSSI IN ACTION. (Rec. 12.15 p.m.) CAIRO, Feb. 16. It is revealed that a unit composed of Senussi warriors, who fled from Italian rule and for a year trained in Egypt, have been in action against the Germans. . , , ... The Senussi were ordered to withdraw before the engagement reached the decisive stage, but British officers said that they displayed the utmost coolness and determination, and were spoiling for a show-down. The Senussi chanted their war hymn before the engagement, then loosed accurate fire against an armoured-cm formation. TENTH ARMY FORMED ? RUGBY, February 16. The Tenth Army based on Iraq and Iran, has been formed under the command of Lieutenant-General E. P. Quinan, according to agency messages from Cairo. This would give General Auchinleck three armies under his command. The Eighth Army is fighting in Cyrenaica, and the Ninth Army is based on Syria. . Authoritative quarters in London j are unable to confirm this Cairo report, but, though it is not considered | impossible, it is pointed out that the decision to create a new army would rest with the Supreme War Council in London. R.A.F. OPERATIONS Feb. 16. An R.A.F. Middle. East communique states: Fighters maintained their activities over the forward areas in Cyrenaica throughout Sunday. Bombers, operating in close support of our ground forces, bombed an enemy column in the Gadd El Ahmar zone, scoring a number of direct hits. On Friday, a Junkers 88 and a Macchi fighter were shot down in the Bir Hacheim region by anti-aircraft fire. During Saturday night, bombers again attacked harbour installations at Benghazi and aerodromes at Berka. Heavy cloud obscured the results of the raids at Benghazi, but fires were seen to break out at Berka. On the same night, objectives in Sicily were bombed. Explosions and fires were caused in the harbour areas at both Augusta and Syracuse. Aerodromes in Catania, Comisco and urherbini, were also raided, the attack on Gherbini being particularly effective. Our aircraft engaged a number of S7l torpedo-bombers which attempted to . attack shipping in the Central Mediterranean, on Sunday. Two enemy aircraft were shot down. During enemy raids on Malta, on the same day, our fighters shot down two Messerschmitts 109’s. Anti-air-craft batteries accounted for two Junkers 88. Some damage was caused in the course of these attacks. Five of our aircraft are missing.