SETBACK IN LIBYA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24826, 28 January 1942, Page 5

SETBACK IN LIBYA

ROMMEL STRIKES AGAIN AMAZING DARING SHOWN THE SITUATION SERIOUS (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 27. The Times military correspondent says: “The phraseoiogy of the latest Libyan communique does not conceal the fact that the Germans have advanced another 20 miles, making a total of about 150 miles from El Agheiia. Slight consolation can be derived from the theory that ground in Cyrenaica does not matter; it matters very much if the ground holds advanced dumps and stores of supplies. Unfortunately we were not ready in time to get our blow in first, which counts for a great deal in this type of warfare. General von Rommel, who received reinforcements, struck too quickly. It may be expected that the enemy will shortly be further reinforced from the convoy which reached Tripoli.” The Cairo correspondent of the Daily Mail says: “ The situation in Cyrenaica is serious. Once again General von Rommel is looking very dangerous. The speed of the German thrusts makes it virtually certain that some of the German transport is now running on British petrol, and some of the Axis troops are eating British rations. It is clearer with each campaign that Cyrenaica’s vital - region is not the coast, but the desert inland. Jedabaya, Maus and Mekile are the important places, not Derna, Barce and Benghazi. The present issue will be fought out along this inner line, where there is not a drop of water and nothing is growing. General Rommel’s move is one of amazing daring. He left a safe defence line for the purpose of fighting in the open against a force whose size he could n»t know.”

INITIATIVE LOST FIGHTING ON BIG SCALE RUGBY, Jan. 26. That the initiative in the Libyan campaign has temporarily passed to Germany is the view authoritatively held in London in the light of present events. What is still in doubt is whether General von Rommel’s new attack is a tremendous raid undertaken to do as much damage as possible and upset the preparations for our own offensive, or is a full-scale counteroffensive. The fighting is now on a big scale, and has spread further north and east. General Rommel ‘ moved his forces about 150 miles from El Agheila in four days. An Italian communique says: “An-

lA number of the attacking bombers Band fighters were damaged by our airBraft, which intercepted the enemy ■formations. A Junkers 88 which was Been taking off from the Sicilian aeroBirome of Comiso on Saturday night Bras attacked and destroyed. I It is now learned that on Saturday Bur fighters operating over the EastBrn Mediterranean shot down two Bunkers 88’s and damaged a number Bf others. From these and other Bperations six of our aircraft are missBng, but four of the pilots are known Bo be safe. ■ British Submarine Successes I Further British submarine successes Bgainst enemy shipping in the mediterranean taking supplies and Beinforcements to General Rommel’s Borces are announced in an Admiralty Bommunique, as follows; —“Two large Bully-laden enemy tankers have been Successfully attacked by submarines of Bhe Mediterranean Fleet. It is conBidered that both were destroyed. One Bvas hit by three torpedoes: _ and the Ether, which had both an air and a Burface escort, was hit by two torB>edoes. A fierce explosion followed Bhortly after this tanker was struck, Rnd it is likely that the vessel blew Bp. An escorted convoy of mediumBized transports was' also attacked and ■orpedoed. Hits were obtained on two Bf the vessels, and one was seen to Eink. The Italian salvage vessel RamBino has in addition been torpedoed End sunk by one of our submarines.