LIBYAN CAMPAIGN

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1942, Page 5

LIBYAN CAMPAIGN

Pursuit Continued

LONDON. Nov. 25. The British communique at Cairo on Wednesday stated: Our forward troops on Tuesday continued their pressure on the retreating- enemy between Agedabia and El Agheila. Air operations over the battle area were' again on a small scale. No spectacular developments are immediately expected either on this front or Tunisia. As the pursuers’ communications lengthen, the bringing up of supplies from forward railheads, hundreds of miles behind the front, present formidable difficulties, which are not lessened by the prevailing bad weather A Cairo message stated; R.A.F. long-range fighters claimed a new victim on Tuesday, when they shot down one of the latest type of German transport plane—a gigantic sixengined Blohm and Voss 222, the largest German aeroplane, which accommodates 80 equipped troops. It was intercepted by three fighters while flying northwards off Linosa Island, and shot down into the sea. Two other Axis supply aeroplanes were also intercepted. A Junkers 52. also flying north of Linosa, was shot down in the sea, and after its crash about 10 soldiers were seen struggling in the water. Our fighters also damaged a Dornier 24, which _was escorted by three Messerschmitts. On Monday night airfields in Crete were attacked by Allied bombers and fires were caused. Airfields in Sicily were also attacked, hits being scored on gun positions. Twin-engined fighters shot down two large German transport aircraft, flying north from Tunisia. One Allied aircraft is missing from these operations. GERMAN PRISONERS. REPORT PESSIMISTIC OUTLOOK. (Rec. 9.20) NEW YORK, Nov. 25. The “New York Times” corresponaent with the Eighth Army says: Germans captured in the Benghazi area declared that the news of a British and American advance in Tunisia had become widespread, enabling German troops to realise the desperate Axis military position in North Africa. Captives, said they had reasoned things out, seeing opponents closing in on two sides, and decided to surrender at the first opportunity, and they suggested many more would inevitably take the same view. PRISONERS ILL-TREATED BY ENEMY (Rec. 12.57) LONDON,. Nov. 26. Stories of ill-treatment while in the hands of Germans and Italians were told by prisoners who were released by the Eighth Army’s advance into Libya. Former prisoners said that when two prisoners gave the “Vee” sign while Germans were photographing a small : enclosure wherein prisoners were confined, guards fired, killing one and wounding several. Mussolini visited a prisoners’ camp at Derna in June. He asked in English about the food and water. Two prisoners replied: “The food is rotten. There is not enough water.” When Mussolini had gone, two guards came and belted these men with straps. A party of 17, including New Zealanders, led toy an Australian, organised an escape tunnel, but someone coughed at a crucial moment. The whole party were removed. They have not been seen again. Rescued prisoners also told of men chained to telegraph poles under burning sun for twentyfour hours, and others lashed and others weighted down by the arms.