BATTLE FOR LIBYA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 63, 16 March 1942, Page 5

BATTLE FOR LIBYA

AIR FORCES AT GRIPS ESTABLISHMENT GF FRONTS London, March 12. The battle for Libya has for the present resolved itself into a fight for air dominance, says the Cairo correspondent of The Times. The British are daily attacking Benghazi, which the Axis have recently restored to partial working order, while German and Italian planes daily or nightly dump dozens of bombs on Tobruk, the defenders of which have shown the Axis raiders that they cannot attack with impunity. For example, three Stukas and seven escorting planes were destroyed a few days ago when they attacked shipping in Tobruk harbour. Axis raids against our forward troops also are not paying, as the enemy are losing 20 per cent, of their attackers. It is known that considerable material is being sent to the Axis armies in North Africa. The British also are being strengthened every day, for which reason the Axis reinforcements are not causing alarm. The present situation is similar to that on the Egyptian frontier last autumn, with both sides digging in at strong points. The Axis troops are securing themselves upon a line from Timimi to Mekili and the British upon a line from Gazala southwards which is naturally strong, and is stronger than that held by the British on t b e Egyptian frontier. LIBYA AND MALTA AIR ACTIVITY CONTINUES Rugby, March 13. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “Shipping in Benghazi Harbour was bombed on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. There was som» lighter activity on Wednesday and Thursday. A JUBB was destroyed and other enemy bombers were damaged off the Egyptian coast on Wednesday. During enemy raids on Malta on Tuesday and Wednesday a JUBB was destroyed and others were damaged. One of our aircraft is missing An aircraft reported as missing in a communique on March 11 has nowreturned to its base.” A Cairo communique states: “During the day there was some exchange of shellfire between advanced elements on both sides. During these exchanges our artillery destroyed a few enemy motor vehicles and caused others to disperse. Our Air Force again carried out offensive patrols over forward areas.”—B.O.W.