PRESSURE KEPT UP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1942, Page 3

PRESSURE KEPT UP

ON RETREATING ENEMY PERSISTENT AIR ATTACKS. ON LAND TRANSPORT & COASTAL SHIPPING. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, January 9. A Middle East war communique from Cairo states: “Throughout yesterday our mobile columns continued to press enemy rearguards covering the withdrawal of his main body towards El Agheila. Enemy resistance north and south of the main JedabayaAgheila road was more stubborn than that encountered by our columns further south, although bad going in the latter areas seriously interfered with lhe speed of our advance. As on the previous day our advance south-west of Jedabaya was delayed by further minefields, which evidently had been well sited and carefully laid. “Our air forces, operating successfully, destroyed a. number of enemy aircraft in aerial combats. “Enemy lines of communication west of El Agheila were also repeatedly attacked and a number of direct hits were obtained on transport vehicles and also on coastal shipping, which is being used to bring stores forward from Tripoli to beaches at various points on the coast of the Gulf of Sirte. ~ ’“ln the Halfaya area units of the Royal Navy, in close co-operation with our artillery and our air forces, carried out a continuous and heavy bombardment of the enemy defences throughout) the day.”