STUBBORN STAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1941, Page 5

STUBBORN STAND

MADE BY THE ENEMY WEST OF DERNA MAY BE ONLY REARGUARD ACTION. OR ATTEMPT TO CHECK ADVANCE. I By Telcj’raph—Press Association —Copyrighti LONDON February 2. In Libya the Italians are now offering stubborn resistance in mountains a few miles to the west of Derna. Shells straddle the roadway beside which British infantry crouch under cover of boulders and in deep.roeky ravines. A British battery has been rushed up to pour a rain of shells on the rugged heights which hide the Italian gunners. The present resistance may be merely a rearguard action designed to cover a withdrawal of the main Italian forces, or it may be the beginning of a real attempt to check the British advance-. The British are ceaselessly preparing to carry the drive farther westward' Sappers have completed repairs to the winding escarpment road which, although it was badly damaged in the! battle for Derna. now carries endless ■ columns of guns and other transport, t British artillery in western Abyssinia is ceaselessly shelling the fleeing Ital- i inns on the Metcmma-Gondar road. ' 'l’he enemy in this sector have been taken by surprise, as they expected to face guerrilla warfare and not regular military action.