LIBYAN FRONT

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1942, Page 6

LIBYAN FRONT

Wider Operations ACTIVITY INCREASED. IN EL GAZALA AREA. LONDON, February 16. A correspondent at Cairo says that while no heavy fighting is yet taking place in the Western Desert, the activities of patrols are daily increasing in a large area south of El Gazala. The enemy are indulging in considerable shelling, making it evident that Von Rommel is endeavouring to feel the strength of our forces from north to south, in an attempt to deliver an attack, probably with his entire forces. A British 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 El Gazala to about 40 miles south of that place. There was a fair amount I of shelling on both sides, but no close ; encounters took place. Our fight- | ers and bombers effectively engaged the enemy, both by low-flying attacks and bombing. The R.A.F. Middle East communique states: Our fighter 'planes on Sunday were active in Cyrenaica, and 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. On 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. The same night, objectives in Sicily were bombed. Explosions and fires were caused in the harbour areas at both Augusta and Syracuse. The aerodromes in Catania, Comisco and Gherbini, were also raided, the attack on Gherbini being particularly effective. Our aircraft engaged a number of S. 71 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 Messerschmitt 109’s. Anti-aircraft batteries accounted for two Junkers 88’s. Some damage was caused in the course of these attacks.

Five of our aircraft are missing. A Cairo report stated 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-car formation.

lIS. SUPPLIES FOR NORTH AFRICA. (Rec. 7.55). WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. Mr. Sumner Welles, Assistant Secretary of State, told press representatives that not a single pound of the American supplies that have been sent to North Africa have reached the Axis forces in Libya by way of French Africa'. He said technical advisers were carrying out supervision and distribution duties verv satisfactorily, arid were still there. The U.S. Government was still awaiting the Vichy Government’s reply to inquiries regarding the question of French supplies reaching Axis forces in Libya.