ROMMEL'S MOVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24203, 19 February 1942, Page 7

ROMMEL'S MOVE

PATROLS WITHDRAWN IN FORCE AT EL MEKILI LONDON, Feb. 18 Rommel has withdrawn his reconnaissance detachments from the El Gazala area, and the 60-mile strip of no-man's land to the west is now clear of enemy troops. There are, however, considerable enemy forces around El Mekili. A Royal Air Force communique reports that in the battle area in Cyrenaica our fighters were again- active throughout Monday. Some damage was caused. Four of our aircraft are missing. One bomber crew and a fighter pilot are safe. The War Office has praised the work of the Royal Ordnance Corps in the Libyan campaign. The Royal Ordnance Corps, it is stated, has been turned into a combatant force and is being given full infantry training.

ITALIAN FLEET OUT PLANES' SUCCESSFUL ATTACK LONDON, Feb. 17 The Royal Air Force Middle East communique says: "Naval aircraft carried out a successful attack on a strong formation of the Italian Fleet in the central Mediterranean on Sunday night. Hits with torpedoes were scored 011 two cruisers and a destroyer: Another destroyer was probably hit. One of the cruisers was well ablaze at the stern shortly after the attack.

BRITISH GRATITUDE CARE OF CHILDREN ABROAD RECIPROCAL HOSPITALITY (Reed. 7.25 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 17 The Kinsmen Trust, which is to provide scholarships and grants in Britain for children from the United States and the Dominions, was inaugurated in London to-day, says the British official wireless. Preference will be given to relatives and friends of those who have afforded hospitality and rendered services to British children. The Dominions Under-Secretary, Mr. Geoffrey Shakespeare, said some 6000 children had been evacuated privately or officially to Canada and nearly 5000 to the United States. The parents felt they were in the debt of the North American Continent. A great number! of these had resources barely adequate for their "Own needs, but, there were a large number able and anxious to show gratitude in practical form and would welcome the establishment of the Kinsmen Trust to return to the children of North America the generous hospitality extended to children from the I United Kingdom.

BLOOD AND WATER GERMAN TRANSFUSIONS LONDON, Feb. L 7 According to the Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper Dagens Nyheter, the Germans are using a new blood substitute for transfusions, which is claimed to be suitable for all groups, and merely has to he mixed with water before injection.