INTENSIVE ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1941, Page 6

INTENSIVE ATTACKS

MADE BY ROYAL AIR FORCE ON ENEMY DESERT COLUMNS. PLANES, VEHICLES & DUMPS DESTROYED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. The R.A.F. is unloosing its most intensive effort since the beginning of the Desert war against German concentrations and transport columns in Cyrenaica, says an Associated Press of Great Britain correspondent in the Western Desert. During the last thirty hours, eight German planes have been destroyed, scores of vehicles set on fire and ammunition and petrol dumps blown up. To meet the British air offensive, the Germans are stationing tanks at regular intervals along the road and trails, to combat low-flying attacking planes. A considerable German force, equipped with 2.000 vehicles, is concentrated in the Capuzzo-Bardia area, but there is no indication that an immediate enemy offensive has been planned. This concentration has been the main target of British ah’ attacks. British air losses so far have been extremely light, but pilots concede that the German anti-aircraft fire is superior to the Italian and is improving. Air observers report seeing enemy troops in the desert clad in khaki, instead of the usual grey-green.