SLOWED BY RAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1941, Page 5

SLOWED BY RAIN

OPERATIONS IN LIBYA BUT PRESSURE ON GERMANS MAINTAINED. AIR ATTACKS CONTINUED VIGOROUSLY. LONDON, December 29. lii Libya, heavy rain has slowed down operations against the enemy, though pressure is continuing. Today’s Cairo communique states that enemy forces in the Jedabaya area yesterday made an effort to repulse our columns closing in on them from the south. The enemy was thrown back and retreated to the west, with the loss - of six tanks. Our aircraft obtained many direct hits on enemy guns in the Bardia perimeter. Enemy torpedo-carrying bombers attempting to attack our shipping were driven off and one was shot down into the sea. Targets at Tripoli were again successfully raided and elsewhere enemy motor transport was bombed. In 38 days the Royal Air Force has occupied 39 enemy aerodromes or landing places. The landing grounds were littered with the debris of wrecked planes. Three-quarters of the machines captured at Derna were German.

MUCH AT ODDS

GERMANS AND ITALIANS. SERIOUS CLASHES IN LIBYA. LONDON, December 28. The records of the Tenth Flieger Corps captured in Libya confirm reports that clashes between the Germans and Italians have become so serious that an order was issued saying: “Such outrages which seriously discredit the German forces in friendly Italy will be severely punished.’’ The records show that many German airmen have been punished with from two to four years’ imprisonment.