ROMMEL’S THRUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 January 1942, Page 3

ROMMEL’S THRUST

GRAVITY FULLY RECOGNISED IN CAIRO FIGHTING OVER WIDE AREA. CENTRE SHIFTS NORTHWARD. LONDON, January 2G. In Cairo the gravity of General Rommel's thrust in Libya is fully realised. The fighting has shifted to the north-east, about 70 miles south 01. Benghazi. Fighting is taking place over a very wide area and news from the front is still very scanty. Already the Axis losses appear to be heavy. It is realised that our plans have received a set back. It was always recognised that General Rommel would hit back and he has kicked like a mule, states a commentator. 150 MILES ADVANCE MADE BY ENEMY FORCES. FIGHTING ON LARGE SCALE. (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, January 26. It is authoritatively stated in London that General Rommel has moved his forces about 150 miles from El Agheila in four days. The fighting is now on a large scale.

LIBYAN BATTLEFIELD

. NOW DOUBLED IN SIZE. ’ SUBSTANTIAL AIR SUPPORT FOR ENEMY FORCES. LONDON, January 25. A reference in an Air Ministry re- ■ port to Msus, 48 miles north-east of ; Antelat and to Maartenel Grara, 45 ; miles eastward of Jedabaya, reveals ■ that the original triangular battle- • ground in Libya between Jedabaya, i Antelat, and Saunnu, is now approximately doubled in size, though the fighting has not assumed the same proportions as that in the vicinity of Sidi Rezegh. The present fighting, news of which is very scanty, is not a set battle. Rather is it a contest between opposing columns jockeying foi - positions. The enemy is now receiving fairly substantial air support. The weather continues bad throughout the area of operations. The Axis air force is using sandy sea coast aerodromes and therefore is probably less affected by the boggy ground than are the Allies. It is reported from Cairo that the Libyan battle is being continued with renewed vigour, and fluctuating fortunes, but that General Rommel is unable to pierce the British defence of tanks, splendidly supported by fieldguns. There has been hardly any change from the scene of battle the previous day, where Guards and colonial troops are believed to be engaged with one of the enemy’s columns. AXIS SUPPLIES SUCCESSFUL SUBMARINE ATTACK FIERCE EXPLOSION ON TANKER. ADMIRALTY COMMUNIQUE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, January 26. Further British submarine successes against enemy shipping in the Mediterranean taking supplies and reinforcements to General Rommel’s forces in Libya are announced by an Admiralty communique which states: “Two large and fully laden enemy tankers have been successfully attacked by submarines of the Mediterranean Fleet. It is considered that both were destroyed. One was hit by three torpedoes and the other, which had both air and surface escort, was hit by two torpedoes. A fierce explosion followed shortly after this tanker was struck and it is likely that the vessel blew up. An escorted convoy of medium sized transport also was attacked and torpedoed hits were obtained on two of the vessels and one was seen to sink. The Italian salvage vessel Rampino has in addition been torpedoed and sunk bj r one of our submarines.” NAVAL SUCCESSES ATTACKS BY SUBMARINES IN MEDITERRANEAN. FOUR SHIPS REPORTED SUNK. LONDON, January 26. Our naval and air forces continue to strike hard at the enemy’s communications. An Admiralty communique reports successful attacks by our submarines on enemy convoys in the Central Mediterranean. An escorted convoy of three medium-sized transports was attacked. Torpedoes hit two of the vessels. One was seen to sink. Two large and fully laden enemy tankers were also attacked by submarines and it is considered that both were sunk. One was , hit by three torpedoes and the other by two torpedoes. An Italian salvage vessel has also been torpedoed and sunk by one of our submarines.

one oi our submarines. FIGHTING CONTINUES FURTHER SUCCESSFUL AIR ATTACKS. MIDDLE EAST COMMUNIQUE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, January 26. A Middle East communique states: “Fighting continued throughout Sunday between the British and enemy forces over a wide area in Cyrenaica. The centre of activity has moved north-east from Antelat and, according to the latest information, our forces were in contact with enemy columns in the general area north and north-east of Msus. Our Air Force continued to attack the enemy with success. Msus is 40 miles from Antelat. PLANES ACTIVE ENEMY TRANSPORT DESTROYED. RAIDS ON MALTA CONTINUE. LONDON, January 26. Extensive sweeps over the Libyan battlefield were made by fighters, which machine-gunned motor transport. Bombers effectively raided motor

units Many vehicles were destroyed and set on fire. Three enemy planes were shot down. Objectives at Tripoli were again attacked by bombers _ on Saturday night. Bombs hit objectives in the harbour area and the main quay. On Saturday three Geiman planes were destroyed over the Central Mediterranean and a number of others damaged. Six of our planes are missing but four of the pilots are safe. Six alerts were sounded in Malta today after a raidless night but no bombs were dropped. Yesterday a large number of, enemy bombers, strongly escorted by fighters, caused neither damage or casualties. One enemy bomber was so severely damaged that it was unlikely to reach its base.