BRITISH DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1942, Page 4

BRITISH DEFENCE

MAINTAINED IN LIBYA AGAINST ROMMEL’S COUNTERATTACK. SPLENDID SUPPORT GIVEN BY OUR GUNS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) RUGBY, January 25. Li is reported from Cairo that llio Libyan battle is being continued with renewed vigour and fluctuating fortunes, lint Hint General Rommel is unable to pierce the British defence of tanks, splendidly supported by field guns and 25 pounders.

There has been hardly any change from the scene of the battle on the previous day, which still runs southeast of Antelat to Saunnu, where the Guards and colonial troops are believed to be engaged with one of the enemy’s columns. A report states that the battle is not on such a large scale as that of Sidi Rezegh oi’ others which were fought at the beginning of the British offensive, but has been marked by substantial air support given to the German tanks and artillery. ROYAL AIR FORCE SEA AND LAND ATTACKS. ACTIVITY IN MANY AREAS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) . RUGBY, January 25. A R.A.F. Middle East communique states: R.A.F. bomber and torpedo aircraft and naval torpedo aircraft carried out a series of determined and highly successful attacks on an enemy convoy of a 20,000-ton ship, three large merchant vessels, one battleship, four cruisers and fifteen destroyers, in the Central Mediterranean during Friday and Friday night. “In the first daylight attacks, on Friday, bombs fell close to the battleship, which altered course. The result of the torpedo attack could not be observed owing to evasive action. During the following night, naval tor-pedo-carrying aircraft scored a hit amidships on the liner and on the stern of a destroyer, causing a violent explosion. R.A.F. aircraft continued the attack and dropped bombs which caused two violent explosions on the liner. Hits were also scored on warships. It is thought that one of the cruisers and two of the merchantmen were also hit. The liner was later seen with clouds of smoke issuing from it, and one of the merchant vessels was seen on fire. After the convoy had been machine-gunned from a low level, naval aircraft resumed the attack, scoring two possible hits on the liner with torpedoes. Subsequent bombing attacks resulted Tn a number of near misses on merchantmen. In daylight next day, the convoy was sighted steering east,, at a much reduced rate. No trace was seen of the liner. “During night operations, our aircraft bombed Tripoli Harbour, causing a fire which was visible for many miles. “In the battle area in Libya yesterday, fighter aircraft maintained continuous offensive sweeps over the Jedabaya, Saunna and Maus areas. Two Junkers 87s, one CR42 and one Macchi 200 were destroyed. Another enemy aircraft was damaged. A concentration of enemy motor transport vehicles and tanks, which was refuelling at Matanen El Grara, was effectively machine-gunned, one petrol trailer being set on fire. “During the night of January 22 our bomber aircraft raided store dumps, buildings and other objectives at Buerat El Hsun. Enemy motorised units on the road near Sirte were also bombed. “From these and other operations one of our aircraft is missing.’’