GOOD NEWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 January 1942, Page 3

GOOD NEWS

CONVEYED IN CAIRO COMMUNIQUE CYRENAICA VIRTUALLY CLEARED. SAND STORMS & RAIN IMPEDE OPERATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 17. An unconditional surrender of Halfaya, the stronghold of the Axis on the Egyptian border, is today's good news in the Cairo headquarters communique. It states: “In tire forward area about El Agheila severe sand-storms and heavy rain yesterday interfered with all operations. In the Halfaya sector Free French patrols were active yesterday morning, but later in the day a dust-storm also hampered further action in this area. This morning the garrison at Halfaya surrendered unconditionally. “About 5500 Axis prisoners were taken, while 76 of our own troops who were previously held prisoners of war were rescued. Enemy guns and war material were captured intact." This surrender means that, practically the whole of Cyrenaica has been cleared of enemy forces. Halfaya was their last point of resistance in eastern Cyrenaica, while in the west. General Rommel's forces have retreated to within 20 miles of the Tripolitanian border, which runs south just west of El Agheila. The fall of Halfaya also means- that the good macadamised road running from Sidi Barrani through Solium along the coast will be available to the. British forces. The capture of prisoners at Halfaya brings the total enemy prisoners taken in Cyrenaica in the present campaign to 31,500, and more are being brought in from the front. ROMMEL’S STAND. General Rommel has returned to the fray in some strength, and is doing everything possible to delay our approach to his position at El Agheila. says the Cairo correspondent of “The Times.” The road here crosses ridge after ridge, separating wadis which run to the sea, and the Germans are taking full advantage of this series of natural obstacles, which are heavily mindc, and they arc raking each ridge

with fire from their machine-guns and artillery. A feature of the situation in the last few days has been a marked increase in the enemy air activity. The recent pause undoubtedly resulted from the disruption of the enemy’s ground organisation during the retreat because of the loss of many aerodromes and machines. Now the enemy has sorted himself out and partially reequipped some squadrons, which are operating from bases in the rear. He has produced low-flying planes with powerful four-cannon armament, which had hitherto not been encountered on this front, and these are concentrating on strafing our ground troops. Our fighters are providing adequate protection, but there have 3 been many dog-fights. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press states that the El Agheila area is the most desolate wasteland anywhere in «the Libyan desert. The latest reconnaissances re#veal that Rommel is doing his utmost to use the beaches near El Agheila to land reinforcements and supplies. El Agheila is important, first, because it is the only watering point over a stretch of 125 miles, and secondly because it ’is surrounded by salt marshes which provide an admirable natural tank-trap.