WITHDRAWAL IN LIBYA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24834, 6 February 1942, Page 5

WITHDRAWAL IN LIBYA

SITUATION GRAVE HARD-WON GAINS LOST ENEMY NOW AT DERNA • (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 5. The whole of the green, fertile belt of Cyrenaica must now be regarded as lost, and there is little likelihood of an immediate cessation of our retire* ment, says the Cairo correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The situation continues distinctly grave, and there is no room for complacency. The enemy in less than a fortnight has advanced about 350 miles, recovering excellent airfields at Benina, Bafce, Dema, and elsewhere,' and lias captured considerable stocks of supplies which the British forces were gathering for the offensive against Agheila. Although the retreat is bitterly disappointing, it has apparently been carried out with-

out exceptionally heavy losses of personnel. The enemy, however, has not made an appreciable advance to the east or to the north-east from Msus. Actually, mobile columns of the Ist British Armoured Division and a brigade of Guards are continuing the offensive in this area. The gallantry of the British, dominion, and Indian troops is unquestionable. Nobody feels that the men in the field are culpable for what has occurred. Cairo circles feel acutely the loss of hard-won gains, especially because of possible political repercussions.

BOMBING ATTACKS R AF. OFFENSIVE RUGBY, Feb 4. A Middle Fast communique states that our fighter and bomber aircraft continued offensive operations over Cyrenaica yesterday. Motorised units along .the roads in the Derna region were effectively attacked and casualties inflicted on enemy personnel. A number of vehicles was destroyed or damaged and. the aerodrome at Berka was raided. ~ On the night of February 2-3 the objectives were Naples and Palermo. At the former heavy cloud and a smoke screen obscured the city. Hits were obtained in the area of the harbour, docks, marshalling yards, and repair base. At Palermo a hit was scored on the quays. Over Sicily our aircraft destroyed a Cant Z 506.

ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS THREE REASONS GIVEN LONDON, Feb. 4. The British forces have left Derna, which is again in German hands, states a military commentator in London. The right flank appears to have gone back 50 miles in two days, but the left flank is stationary. A high naval authority advanced three reasons why Field Marshal Rommel was reinforced, as follows; 1. The enemy is employing stronger surface and. aerial forces to protect his Mediterranean convoys. 2 Cruisers and destroyers are being used as transports, and are able to complete the 300-mile dash to North Africa under cover of darkness. 3. Undoubtedly the recent record rainstorms and poor visibility were more favourable to evasion than detection, No doubt considerable reinforcements are getting through. The former correspondent in Pari* of the Daily Telegraph says that Rommel is getting supplies from Tunisia, which is acting as a vast clearinghouse. THE EGYPTIAN COMMAND RUGBY, Feb. 4. Lieutenant-general R. G. W. H. Stone, chief of the British mission to the Egyptian Army, has been appointed general officer commanding the British troops in Egypt.

Night attacks were made by naval aircraft on a large enemy merchant vessel in the Central Mediterranean on February 2-3. The ship was torpedoed, and next day was seen to have gone aground.

Enemy aircraft continued their raids on' Malta during the night of February 2-3 and again on February 3. Some damage was caused. . From these and other operations all our aircraft returned safely.