DECISION NEAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24793, 18 December 1941, Page 7

DECISION NEAR

LIBYAN CAMPAIGN THE BRITISH ADVANCE PROSPECTS OF VICTORY (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 16. “A decision in Libya is drawing near,” says the military correspondent of The Times. “ The Germans are certain to continue the fight, and it won’t be an easy task to subdue them. It will depend not only on overcoming the Germans’ resistance, but on our ability to hold them in spite of lengthening communications, which will be subject to constant air attack. The prospects of a decisive victory, however, are probably better than at any previous time.”

A Royal Air Force Middle East communique says: “ Dust storms seriously curtailed activity in Libya yesterday; nevertheless our fighter aircraft were active over the Gazala, Tmimi, Gadd and El Hamal zones and machine-gun attacks were made on motor transport on the Gemenes to El Agheila road. During the night of December 14 R.A.F. bombers successfully raided harbour installations in Benghazi and direct hits were obtained on wharves and buildings near the quayside. All our aircraft returned safely.” “The German equipment surpasses anything I have seen in the desert,” wrote the Daily Express correspondent with the Eighth Army. He proceeds: “Tents were equipped with electric light and concrete floors. Each man appears to have his own tent, composed of sheets of first-class synthetic rubber. The German personal hygiene goes to extraordinary lengths. I found hundred of bottles of mouth-wash, eye lotion.# body powder, tablets for purifying water, and pills for making soups, lemonade and stews. The quartermasters’ stores contain plenty of ersatz wool gloves, underclothing, jackets, overcoats and sweaters. I found sacks of onions, apples and lemons. The Germans eat less than our men, but still seem to thrive. The special “ pepping up ” drug issued by the Germans was contained in a piece of chocolate. I ate a piece but did not notice any particular effect.”