LIBYAN SITUATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 February 1942, Page 5

LIBYAN SITUATION

ENEMY ACTIVITY INCREASES

RUGBY, February 23. A Cairo communique states: Operating in the general area cast of Tmimi and south of the TmimiMekili track, our fighting patrols and mobile columns yesterday encountered a somewhat-heavier scale of resistance from the enemy columns, while considerable movement was observed in the afternoon from Martuba towards Tmimi.

Enemy air activity against targets in our forward area was also on an increased scale.

Our own air forces again covered our land operations by fighters’ sweeps, whilst our bombers effectively attacked positions in the rear. TREK ACROSS DESERT.

LONDON, February 23. The story is told in Cairo of a long trek across the desert by an Army officer and a sergeant who walked 120 miles from Benghazi. They had many narrow escapes, and when they finally reached the British lines without knowing it, they even tried to dodge their own companions.

R.A.F. OPERATIONS

RUGBY, February 23

An R.A.F. Middle East communique savs: Our fighters patrolled the forward area in Cyrenaica throughout yesterday. A Junkers 88 was intercepted and shot down, the crew of four being taken prisoner. Another Junkers 88 was destroyed off the North African coast, and several others were severely damaged. During yesterday and Saturday night, enemy aircraft carried out a series of sustained attacks on Malta. Some damage was done, but the casualties were small. Our fighters intercepted the raiding forces and shot down a Messerschmitt 109. Other Junkers 88 and Messerschmitts 109 were so severely damaged that they are unlikely to have reached their bases.

Naval aircraft successfully attacked an enemy tanker in the central Mediterranean on Saturday night. A hit with a torpedo was followed by a large flash. Two of our planes are missing.