FIGHTING IN LIBYA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1942, Page 3

FIGHTING IN LIBYA

NUMBER OF ENEMY TANKS DESTROYED SUCCESSFUL AIR ATTACKS. ON ENEMY TRANSPORT & BASES In Libya R.A.F. fighters are maintaining constant offensive sweeps over the battle area. A Cairo communique reports confused fighting yesterday. In one phase of the fighting on Friday our forces destroyed at least five enemy tanks. Cur fighters destroyed four Axis planes and damaged others. An effective machine-gun attack was made on enemy motor transport vehicles and tanks refuelling south-east of Jedabaya. Enemy units at Sirte and in Tripoli Harbour have been bombed by our aircraft. From these and other operations one plane is missing. BATTLE STILL RAGING IN THE JEDABAYA AREA. NAZIS TAKING GREAT RISK. - (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 24. Having reoccupied Jedabaya, from which the British light forces have withdrawn, General Rommel’s forces, according to Press messages from Cairo, are now engaged with the main British forces, including tanks and artillery in a 40-mile based triangle on the desert “invasion” road, which leads to Mekili. The main British forces had been concentrated in the area from Jedabaya to Antelat and to the east, south and north. The battle is still raging, but. it seems that General Rommel’s offensive has as its main object in pushing so far from his base the interruption and destruction of preparations wc are making. Axis columns now engaged here have split up and are operating in the area in which we had dumps of stores and equipment. It is believed that more than half the Axis total strength is engaged, and. while some tanks in use have been in action earlier in the campaign, reinforcements must have been received. Great risk would seem to .be taken by the Nazis in advancing so far. as there may well be difficulties in maintaining supplies. The initial penetration reached only British forward patrols, including some

armoured cars, infantry and artillery. The main British forces never reached Jedabaya. Flat country spreads before General Rommel eastward and northward of Jedabaya, suitable for tanks. A British Cairo headquarters report states: “Yesterday several enemy columns, each with a tank component, were engaged by our mobile columns in a triangle between Jedabaya, Antelat and Saunnu. Results of the fighting, which covered a very large area, are not yet known, but our air forces did great execution with bombs and lowflying attacks on groups of enemy mechanical transport at and about Jedabaya.”