AXIS OUTPOSTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22476, 11 January 1943, Page 4

AXIS OUTPOSTS

Onslaught By Fighting French (Rec. 6.30 pm.) RUGBY, Jan. 9. The Fighting French headquarters announce the receipt of the following communique from General Le Clerc’s headquarters:—“The defeat at the enemy in Fezza is becoming a rout. Our advanced elements occupied Debrache. Other enemy outposts are encircled by our troops. Operations continue." A French High Command communique broadcast by the Morocco radio last night states—“To the south of Pont du Fahs our patrols were engaged in some fighting. Further to the west an enemy surprise attack, supported by tanks, was repulsed and considerable losses of men and material were inflicted on the enemy. There is nothing to report from the rest of the front.” After three days of fierce fighting General le Clerc’s Fighting French forces, advancing north from their Chad base, 1000 miles away, stormed and captured Oumelaranes. the main Axis outpost in Fezzan. Oumelaranes is 65 miles east of Morzuk, in Southern Libya. Fezzan, which forms the southern part of Tripolitania, was occupied by Italian troops toward the end of 1913. Extending some 400 miles north and south, and some 300 miles east and west, it belongs properly to the desert region of North Africa. The inhabitants are Arab Berbers, who belong mainly to the Gunnite seet of Mohammedans, and are nomads. A little agriculture and much date cultivation are carried on in the few oases, the most important of which are those of Ghat, in the extreme south-west, and Murzuk, which is more central. A communique from General le Clerc’s headquarters says a Camel Corps detachment under Captain Sarazac captured the enemy garrison at Gatrun and took 177 prisoners and much booty. The detachment covered a great distance at record speed and swept the enemy off his feet. A Bretagne squadron razed hangars and workshops and destroyed an ammunition dump at Sebka. The Camel Corps also occupied Tachiunet, 100 miles north-west of Serdeles.