ON RETIRING ENEMY FORCES IN LIBYA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1941, Page 5

ON RETIRING ENEMY FORCES IN LIBYA

New Zealanders Closing In On Gazala POWERFUL ACTION BY BRITISH AND IMPERIAL AIR FORCES ROMMEL MORE AND MORE WORRIED LONDON, December 14. Cairo military circles stated tonight that a battle is developing at the point west of Gazala, where the British forces are catching up with the retreating Axis troops. A correspondent in Cairo estimates that in spite of determined resistance by the enemy, the Axis forces have already been driven back 50 miles.

At Gazala the encircling New Zealand troops are closing in on the enemy’s defence positions. There is increasing evidence that General Rommel, the commander of the German forces, is feeling more and more worried over the strength of the bomber and fighter attacks of the R.A.F., the R.A.A.F, and the S.A.A.F. An observer says Rommel has been asking for and getting reinforcements of Messerschmitts from across the Mediterranean to oppose, the air attacks which are hampering his withdrawal. The British, air forces are not only dealing with these reinforcements in Libya, but are attacking enemy air bases on the other side of the Mediterranean.

On Friday and Saturday 18 enemy planes, mostly Messerschmitts, were brought down in Libya and at least one was destroyed, in a successful raid on a landing ground at Derna. The R.A.F. yesterday attacked enemy shipping and bases in Greece and shot down one German fighter. We lost 16 machines in these and all other operations.