DESERT COLUMN ATTACKED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 29 April 1942, Page 2

DESERT COLUMN ATTACKED

FREE FRENCH BOMBERS MAKE LONG FLIGHTS London, April 27. | Ground operations yesterday in the Libyan battle area were confined to patrols, and the weather was too bad for air operations. Free French bombers based in the Chad territory have flown across wide stretches of the Sahara to make an attack on an Italian desert column. The enemy column, which included motor | ised troops, was apparently on its way | ho replace garrisons captured in the j outposts recently raided by General i Leclerc’s column. j A Middle East communique states: - “There was considerable patrol activity £ yesterday on both sides. Enemy columns i in the southern sector withdrew when £ engaged by our light forces.” —8.0. W. 1 j GENERAL RITCHIE CONFIDENT ; SUCCESS OF CAMPAIGN- IN LIBYA ’ ] (Rec. 1230 p.m.) Rugby, April 28. General Ritchie, G.O.C. of the Bth I Army in Libya, when interviewed by 1 British United Press, said: “I am com- 1 pletely confident of the outcome of the 1 Libyan campaign. Our air superiority ' is evident. General Rommell received 1 fresh equipment, much of which was ( captured from the Russians, recaptured 1 by the British and is being used against ' the Germans again.”—B.O.W.