MAIN FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1942, Page 4

MAIN FIGHTING

IN LIBYAN BATTLE AREA NOV/ IN REGION OF ACROMA & EL ADEM. ROMMEL WITHIN THREE MILES OF COAST ROAD. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, June 16. The main fighting in Libya is now raging in the region of the Acroma and El Adem boxes. Reports from Cairo this afternoon stated that the British were still holding Acroma at midday. It was also stated that the British garrison holding the Knightsbridge box was withdrawn some days ago. The El Adem box is besieged ny Axis infantry, who are digging in beyond the range of the strongpoint’s artillery, while Italian and German tanks mill around the box, to check any British attempt to break out. The El Adem aerodrome, two miles north of the box, is in Axis hands and is now a gathering point for Axis tanks. Some reports say that fighting is going on within sight of Tobruk. In the Acroma region, General Rommel is within three miles of the GazalaTobruk Road, which is only two miles from the Mediterranean. The Imperial forces have withdrawn from the Acroma escarpment. One strong enemy patrol to the east, past El Adem, is being engaged in the area of El Duda and Sidi Rezegh. Italians and Germans hold El Tamar and also the Elenta heights, from which artillery, including howitzers, is shelling the Acroma-Gazala-Tobruk Road. Despite the shellfire, our transport is moving freely along the road, enabling us to hold off Axis attempts to reach the highway on the coast. The Imperial troops have withdrawn from Gazala through this narrow bottle-neck under cover of determined fighting by the Acroma troops and the First Arrxoured Division, who beat off repeated Axis attempts to reach the road. CLOSE AIR SUPPORT GIVEN TO BRITISH TROOPS & SHIPS. LONG-DISTANCE BOMBING RAIDS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) RUGBY, June 16. A R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “Yesterday our fighters were m action in the forward area of Cyrenaica operating in close co-operation with our land forces. An enemy formation in the El Adem area was subjected to constant attack by bomber and fighter-bomber aircraft and a successful raid was carried out in the evening on enemy troops in this area. “Enemy air activity was chiefly directed at our shipping, which was protected by planes. Several enemy machines were shot down. . “On Sunday night, Benghazi and Berka were raided by our bombers. On the same night aerodromes at Kastel Heraklion and Tymbaki, in Crete, were attacked. tj “Enemy aircraft activity over Malta was on a reduced scale.” AMBITIOUS CLAIMS MADE IN ROME COMMUNIQUE. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, June 16. A Rome communique states: “Italian and German troops, who bypassed Acroma and reached the coast, continue to develop their operations successfully.” The communique adds: “We have reached and passed the Gazala positions. The Axis air force is mistress of the skies, and without respite, is supporting the land operations. It ma-chine-gunned and bombed retreating enemy columns and destroyed and put out of action hundreds of motorised units.” BERLIN REPORT SPREAD OF AXIS FORCES. FROM ACROMA TO THE SEA. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) ■ LONDON, June 16. The Berlin radio stated that the Axis forces have spread from Acroma to the sea, thus foiling General Ritchie’s counter-movement.