SANDSTORMS AND RAIN

Southland Times, Issue 24650, 23 January 1942, Page 5

SANDSTORMS AND RAIN

Operations In Libya Hampered

(8.0.W). RUGBY, January 21. A Cairo communique states that a blinding sandstorm, which raged yesterday throughout the frontier districts of Western Cyrenaica, restricted our activities both on the ground and in the air. These weather conditions, which are the worst that have obtained for a decade, alternate between severe sandstorms and heavy rain. Because of the latter many areas on the enemy’s front have temporarily been turned into impassable marshes. This has enabled him to mine heavily the restricted, intervening areas, thus hampering the movement of troops. j The collection of equipment and war material in the Halfaya area is continuing. In addition to quantities of other pieces of lesser calibres and stocks of material of all categories 16 German and 44 Italian field and medium and heavy dual purpose guns have been taken over in first-class condition. The final count of prisoners in the Halfaya area reaches 5526. Of these, 178 officers and 3222 other ranks are Italians. A Berlin message says Herr Hitler has awarded General Erwin Rommel the Oak Leaf with Swords, equivalent to the Knight Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross, “in recognition of his defensive victory in North Africa against a far superior enemy whereby he frustrated Anglo-American intentions.”

Captain Oliver Lyttelton, Minister representing the War Cabinet in the Middle East, has returned to Cairo from a visit to Cyrenaica, where he inspected the British Imperial Forces.