LOSS OF SUPPLIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22140, 8 December 1941, Page 5

LOSS OF SUPPLIES

Axis Being Hard Hit

(Rec. 6.30 pan.) LONDON, Dec. 5. Not more than 40 per cent of convoys from Italy for Libya reach their destination intact said Commodore

Edelstein, Chief of Staff for Naval Operations in the Eastern Mediterranean in an interview with the Associated Press.

Commodore Edelstein added that General Rommel was apparently hard pressed, particularly for petrol, motor transport, ammunition and supplies. The Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm were working extraordinarily well

locating and destroying convoys bound for Benghazi and TripolL Asked why the Italian fleet did not come out, the Commodore said that the British Fleet would have done so had it been in the same position. However, the Italians knew that Britain commanded both ends of the Mediterranean. They had tried coming out once before, at Matapan, and got something they did not like.

B.A.F. Intensifies Attacks , The tine weather has enabled the R.AF. to intensify its attacks, which have been mainly delivered against patrol tank waggons on the Tripoli coast road and on concentrations of

motor transport east of Sidi Rezegh. “After the recent bad weather, air activity on a considerable scale was resumed in the Libyan battle area yesterday,” states a R AF. communique. “Raids in which British, South African and Free French bombers took . part were successfully carried out on concentrations of enemy motorised forces east of Sidi Rezegh. Many vehicles were destroyed and explosions observed. Fires which broke out were visible for many miles.

"Two main fighter combats occurred over the battle area in the course of which our aircraft destroyed five Junkers 87s, one Messerschmitt 109, three Gsos, and four Macchi 2025. A considerable number of other enemy aircraft were severely damaged. . Tankers Destroyed “On the coast road in the Sirte region, petrol tankers were destroyed and lorries laden with oil were set on fire during a low-flying attack. "Objectives in the El Adem area were raider throughout Wednesday night. Fires which could be seen from Tobruk broke out, and dfrect hits were obtained on buildings and motor transport. These targets were again attacked throughout Thursday night, when fires were started among the

buildings of the aerodromes and bombs fell among enemy motor vehicles. “Tugs on the ferry service between Italy and Sicily were machine-gunned by our bombers yesterdayA railway siding at San Giovanni was attacked and 10 of 54 petrol tankers were burned out. Bombs also burst on marshalling yards, causing a number of fires. “From these and other operations four of our aircraft are missing.’’