LIBYA WARFARE

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21525, 13 September 1941, Page 7

LIBYA WARFARE

POWERFUL OFFENSIVE ? SUPPLIES CONCENTRATED LARGE REINFORCEMENTS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 11 Britain is believed to be preparing to launch in Libya the most powerful offensive since the outbreak of war, states the correspondent of the British United Press at Capetown. The flow of supplies and reinforcements is stated to have reached a point enabling the British to take advantage of the cooler weather in the Western Desert and Germany’s preoccupation with Russia. Thousands of tons of American shipping, laden with all kinds of war supplies, are rounding the Cape of Good Hope bound for the Middle East and the Far East. Return cargoes include large quantities of rubber, chrome and manganese. American aeroplanes have been seen in West Africa, flying southward, although there is no confirmation that substantial quantities of American supplies are yet being ferried across Africa. The men of Tobruk—Australians, Indians and British—are doing the toughest job of the war. It is a job which has called not only for courage of the highest order, but for endurance, which matches the famous sieges of history. For more than four of the hottest months of the North African summer, these gallant men, with their backs to the sea, have held at bay a greatly superior force, and have smashed heavy attacks launched against them. Heat, Sandflies and Death All day, and every day, the Libyan sun beats down from a cloudless sky until weapons become too hot to handle. Any movement raises clouds of choking dust. Frequently heavy sandstorms blow up from the desert, blotting out everything and reducing visibility to a few yards. Heat, sandflies and death are daily companions of Tobruk’s garrison, with fleas, vipers and scorpions thrown in for good measure. Water is strictly rationed. Meals consist almost exclusively of bully beef, with little tablets of vitamin C to supply the lack of greens and fruit. Recreational facilities naturally are practically nil. When a soldier gets a spell off duty he goes down to one of the beaches round the wreckstrewn harbour, and for the first time for days gets thoroughly clean. He has a good swim, lounges on the sand in the sun, and relaxes from the constant strain. He la r robaoiy interrupted by bombs and machineguns from raiding aircraft, but that has become commonplace to him. Exchange of Shellfire

A communique issued from the British headquarters at Cairo states: At Tobruk and in the frontier area there was some exchange of shellfire. IN THE PACIFIC GERMAN RAIDERS SUNK (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12 The Australian and Dutch forces destroyed 13 German raiders in the South Pacific in the past eight months, says the United Press’ Manila correspondent. It is confirmed from America that a German raider sank the Kota Nopan 1000 miles west of the Panama Canal. The raider is believed to have been an armed merchantman and probably operated from a base outside the waters guarded by the Australian and Dutch naval and air patrols. Recently a commercial plane en route from Australia to Batavia observed a tanker idling in calm seas, apparently awaiting a rendezvous with the raider. The plane reported to the Dutch naval authorities, who later thanked the pilot for valuable information.

SEIZURE OF SHIP CARGO FOR WEST AFRICA (United Press Assn.—Elcc. Tel. copyright) LONDON, Sept. 11 Asked lor information relating to the seizure of the French steamship Isac, which was intercepted on July 19 on passage from Bordeaux to Casablanca, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, Mr Dingle Foot, said the vessel was carrying three locomotive chassis and parts, weighing 127 tons, 165 tons of sugar, and 248 tons of general cargo for Casablanca, Dakar and other West African ports. The vessel was seized under Article 2 of the Reprisals Order-in-Council of July, 1940, whereby any vessel on its way from a port through which goods might come from enemy territory and which was not provided with a valid ship navicert was deemed to be carrying goods of enemy origin or ownership, and was liable to seizure as a prize.