LULL IN LIBYA

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1942, Page 5

LULL IN LIBYA

ROMMEL’SDIFFICULTIES NEXT BATTLE_PREPARATIONS CAIRO, March 16. While the successful Russian offensive on the southern front makes German hopes of a thrust m the Spi ing to the Caucasus grow less rosy, the other' prong of the so-called Axis pincers,—Rommel’s army m Libya,has been blunted against our has massed forces in Jebel Akhdar region, while line runs southwards from Gazaia. Both sides are resting after the grueL li n ? fighting last month, and aie busily building up their strength. The British are m a much better position to bring up su PP^ es h^ d tje inforcements, because they have me advantage of shorter lines of communi’eation and a desert railhead. T is railhead is important, and New zea land-Indian construction companies are working hard to extend it. RommJl on the other hand has long exposed lines of communication, which are constantly harassed by our Au the two main armies have remained quiet, there has been da iiy patrol activity wherein we had decid edly the better of it. In the desert around Mekili, there have been lively artillery duels. Air operations have been on an extensive scale with the balance well in the R.A.F.’s favour.

MINOR OPERATIONS

RUGBY, March 16. Increased patrol activity, both on the ground and in the air in Libya, does not lead informed opinion heie to conclude that fighting is necessarily on the point oY “boiling up. Ike Germans have probably been receiving more reinforcements, both land troops and planes. The weather, too, IS The el recent capture of several Italian posts in southern Libya by the Free French is not regarded as cd general significance to the African operations. The Free French saw the opportunity to reduce these posts. They took it, and did the job well.

ENEMY AERIAL LOSSES.

RUGBY, March 16. A Middle East communique states' In engagements on March 14 between our columns and enemy light forces, our troops destroyed least one tank and two lorries, and captured some prisoners. Enemy airmen attacked our ground troops. Our an force provided support and intercepted the enemy on several occasions. Our patrols were active in observing enemy movements and conMiddle East communique states’ Offensive operations by qui bombers and fighters in Cyrenaica were maintained throughout Y day. In a raid on an enemy aerodrome at Martuba, at least five; ancraft were destroyed on the ground. In the course of several aerial combats that developed, one ME : 109 ,fe s shot down and others severely dam aged. Objectives in Mantza Gala to. in the island of Rhodes and at Heiakiinn in Crete were attacked by our bomber aircraft on Saturday night. One of o'ur aircraft is missing, but the pilot is safe.

ATTACKS ON MALTA

RUGBY, March 15. Reports from Malta state that last night was again comparatively quiet. A few bombers appeared shortly alter dark Several did not cross the coast. A tew bombs but there is no report oi any dan age. Anti-aircraft guns and fight ers co-operated in attacking die report showed that an ME 109 claimed to have been damaged by our fighters yesterday, was actually To- day, e ffie Germans made a sSries of determined attacks on th a aeiodrome and harbour woiks, causiiit, "'while’lt®'. ed both bombers and fffihtei£ .number of cases. R-Ajl ■ 8 ■ severely damaged one JU 88 bomb-i One alert of the day. sounded after dawn for a small force of P . rolling Messerschmitts, was llo^i- d by a single bomber attack. A bomb- “ Laid developed an h»ur teta, and was the preliminary to a^ regular intervals duung the g and day. _____ MALTA’S DEFENCES LONDON, March 16. A German airman broadcasting from Berlin paid tribute to the “unparalleled defences the British have fed"*' met everywhere throughout the island an array of ant?-aircraft guns and at any moment we had to be ready to engage fightei s, the efficiency of which left traces on our machines. The German pilots do not have an easy time.