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Grey River Argus, 19 December 1941, Page 8

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Pressure Kept Up [Aust. & .-N.Z. Cable Assn.l LONDON, December 17. . , British and Empire forces continue to advance in Libya. The main fighting has resolved itself into three areas—round Alem Jamza, 15 miles south-west of El Gazala', round El Olebam, 30 miles west of El Gazala. and round El Gazala itself. Lieuten-ant-General N. M. Ritchie’s armoured forces have carried out a wide flanking movement to th'e El Olebam i\ gion,' where the engagement seems to be behind’ Genera] von Rommel’s main forces. Bitter fighting is m progress. Round El Galaza itself Axis forces have been thrown back from the important, aerodrome. It is pointed out in London that the British forces are advancing more rapidly against the Germans and Italians than they advanced aganist the Italians alone early this year. The flanking movement 30 miles west»of the enemy’s main forces round El Gazala seriously threatens the communications of these forces along the coast to Derna. An R.A.F. Middle East communique stated: aerial /activity over the Libyan battle area, was on a reduced scale. A Messerschmitt 109 was shot down by our fighters in the Tmimi-Gazala areas. Our fighters maintained constant patrols over our land forces. Motor transport on the road south of d'edabaya was attacked and damaged. Objectives at Derna were, raided by bomber aircraft, and another attacp. was*made on isolated enemy positions at Bardia, where fires broke out in buildings. Workshops /and motor transport at Bardia were also attacked. During last night, bombers attacked naval units m Taranto harbour. Three of our aircraft are missing from these operations, two of the pilots being safe.’’ ADVANCE SLACKENS. WEATHER ADVERSE. LONDON, December 17. A Cairo communique states: Bad weather, with heavy sandstorms, in the past 24 hours, temporarily slowed down the rate of advance, both pl our main forces south-west of Gazala. and our armoured forces operating west of that area. Despite these adverse conditions, however, our pressure everywhere has been maintained, and ‘some progress has been made. In the area west of Tobruk, about 40 more abandoned German-Italian guns and several anti-tank guns have been recovered. Operating under extreme weather difficulties, our fighters again effectively countered attempts by the enemy air force to interfere with our ground troops. They also carried out successful attacks on enemy transport columns behind the battlefront.

A British force, making an outflanking movement lyehind an enemy armoured force in the Gazala area, has encountered resistance near Halegh el Olebam. It is stated authoritatively in London that ten enemy tanks have been encountered there.

An account of the Libyan situation is given by an agency correspondent. With the' battle going on over an exceedingly wide area, British pressure is being everywhere maintained, and the Germans are making every effort at a steady withdrawal. Rommel is using all the Luftwaffe at his disposal, and launching counter-at-tacks at different points. The operations have in the past 24 hours been slowed rm all over the desert, owing to the- weather conditions. Communications are extremely' difficult, and while it is true that the R.A.F. is still supreme, German planes are proving a nuisance in storming units and even headquarters, uiving low and machine-gunning and getting away at speed. A cold, penetrating wind is blowing in the desert, urivmg such dust clouds that at times visibility falls to 50 or 60 yards. rhebattlefield presents a grim, tragicaspect. Shattered truck's and arinoured cars, all kinds of vehicles ripped to pieces by shells, strew the sands, and bodies not yet buried under the debris of battle. A little further away, burnt and smashed German tanks, caught by the lightning British counter-offensive, lie untouched in the desert, as well as ail kinds of supplies. The counter-at-tack was so unexpected that an entire German surgical unit, with pharmaceutical supplies, surgical instruments, bandages, and even blouses, was abandoned, but the battle continued, and the Italian Trieste; and Trene motorised divisions are forming the rearguard. The Vich" News Agency, quoting neutral military observers, says that the German High Command is planning to send a number of troops from Russia, including Panzer units, to reinforce Rommell in Libya. RUGBY, December 17.

“.Regarding; the present campaign,” the “Journal of Egypt” says, “the Fuehrer 1 intended to prove superiority of his troops in a direc’ tight with the British, and to occupv Egynt by bold, clever manoeuvres The manoeuvre has not only failed, and Egypt is not invaded, but German military prestige has been just as heavily hie in Libya as in 'Russia Wherever the Germans do not possess 200 per cent, superiority in men and material, thev retreat. The ad vance of the British troops in Libya will have the greatest repercussions in the Orient.” ENEMY PILOTS SURPRISED. RUGBY, December 17. Two brand-new Messerschmitts, flying very high, circled three times and then landed on an aerodrome in Libya. This landing ground was built on a high escarpment. There was nothing except a heap of stones, that was once an ancient water point, and the level stretch of the landing ground itself. A little group of sappers crouched among the stones, and watched tin; German fighters land. They saw the two pilots climb from the cockpits and meet halfway between the aircraft. The engines were left purring. In deep conversation the pilots walked slowly across the aerodrome. A sapoer corporal said “Now.” Immediately four of his men rushed at the Germans, who were taken prisoner. They had landed on a recently captured aerodrome, and .were part of a formation of reinforcements of aircraft. ITALIAN PRISONERS. RUGBY, December 17. In addition to the Italian prisoners already held in the United Kingdom, arrangements have been made for a large number to be brought from the Middle East. Of those who have already arrived, a large proportion hasbeen allotted to agriculture, -and th’ rest are employed on work of other kinds, including the construction of accommodation for future arrivals. Mr. .Duncan Sandys made this statement in the Commons, to-day. The Italian Government have re-

affirmed the intention of sending transport vessels for repatriation oi their nationals in Ethiopia The ships have not so far sailed, but the Italians in Ethiopia are being- moved towards the coast in readiness for embarkatl(The War Tinder-Secretary. Mr. R K. Law, made this statement in the Commons, adding it was the British Government’s intention to get the Italians out of Ethiopia «s soon as possible. ITALIAN'SUBMARINE SUNK. LONDON, December 17. An Admiraltv. communique announces the sinking in the central Mediterranean of the Italian submarine Ammiraglio Caracciolo (1461 tons) There were 53 survivors. The submarine was attempting to give passage to Libya to 20 army officers. A general, who was chief executive engineer of Italian Army Headquarters in Rome, was not among those picked up. The Ammiraglio Caracciolo was one of the latest class of ocean-goine submarines It is understood that General Lami. who was lost when an Italian sub. marine wa's sunk in the Mediterranean, was attempting to reach Rome He was the chief executive engineer of the Italian army headquarters