CAMPAIGN IN LIBYA

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21910, 14 December 1942, Page 3

CAMPAIGN IN LIBYA

ALLIES PROBE DEEPLY REPORT UNCONFIRMED LONDON, Dec. 13 There is no confirmation of a German report that a large-scale battle has begun at El Agheila. The report probably arose from a longrange patrol at the southern end of the line in which tanks were used. Allied patrols, however, are probing deeply into the enemy positions Continued probes by the Eighth Army penetrated as far as 4000 yards into enemy positions in the El Agheila area and these actions were accompanied by attacks rising on a scale of the supply routes, demonstrating how the eastern wing of the Allied offensive is being fell more and more in the Central Mediterranean area. 1 There is evidence that, the Germans intend to fight only a delaying action at El Agheila. Correspondents report that the enemy is moving westward everything but fighting equipment. Unfavourable weather today limited air activity in Libya and only patrols were active on the ground. The Germans last night came out with the story that General Montgomery had launched an attack on a wide front. “The Eighth Army employed two tank and two infantry divisions, also strong air formations,” said the German agency. “Heavy attacks along the coast road collapsed with heavy losses, after which General Montgomery struck far to the south in an attempt to make a breach. “The British penetrated on a narnow sector in the south, but were forced to retreat with heavy losses. General Montgomery during the afternoon threw in a new tank division in the same sector. Fighting is still in progress.” German Nervousness There are indications that General Montgomery is getting ready to launch a heavy blow and the enemy is nervous about our testing of his defences. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says that features of the Libyan activities yesterday were a British armoured force reconnaissance in strength and 1 long-range small-scale tank action in the south, in which losses were : inflicted on the enemy. Today’s German communique i claims that German tank forces in Cyrenaica, by immediate and violent counter-attacks, frustrated strong British attacks. An Italian communique says that the British are exerting strong pressure in Cyrenaica with infantry atI tacks, supported by tanks and artillery.