WESTERN DESERT

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1941, Page 6

WESTERN DESERT

Italian Reinforcements MEET GREAT DIFFICULTIES. LONDON, July 23. Indicating the Italians’ difficulties in the Western Desert, the Milan newspaper, “Corriere Della Sera", says: “Words hardly express the martyrdom accompanying the organisation of our communications to Solium. The most terrible enemies are the devilish sand ruts, and tne desert wind, which stifles everything, destroying machines, even more than men. As Tobruk remains in British hands, the Italians are only able to use the 40 miles caravan road from Aroma, to El Adem. Vehicles are constantly liable to sink in the sand. Reinforcements and supplies are being taken to Libya in sailing boats, motor boats, and small steamers, which ply between coastal bases, under constant machine-gun fire from British ’planes.” British and Imperial troops made a raid from Tobruk on the night pt Thursday last and killed 50 of the enemy, and wounded another 100. The casualties were negligible. A Cairo headquarters communique states: Continuing offensive action, one of our patrols penetrated to a cons’derable depth outside Tobruk, on the night of Monday. No serious clash with the enemy occurred, but a few casualties were inflicted, at small loss to ourselves.