HILL FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1942, Page 3

HILL FIGHTING

IN PROGRESS IN LIBYA ENEMY TRYING TO ADVANCE EAST OF BARCE. BEFORE ATTEMPTING FURTHER DESERT THRUST. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 2. In Libya British mobile units are engaging the enemy in the hilly country to the east of Barce. Clashes are reported over an area extending from Barce to Maraua, 40 miles further east. The enemy appears to be making strong efforts to force his way through the hilly country in this region before attempting further measures in the inland desert region. ALMOST INTACT GALLANT INDIAN BRIGADE. AFTER REARGUARD ACTION AT BENGHAZI. LONDON, February 2. The Seventh Indian Infantry Brigade, which was defending Benghazi, has returned to its base almost intact as regards fighting strength. Engineers and other units who stayed behind to carry out demolition work were unable to get away.

NOTABLE PART

PLAYED BY INDIAN TROOPS. DESERT MARCH OF SEVENTH BRIGADE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, February 2. A Cairo communique states: “Our Fourth Indian Division is conducting its withdrawal in the Jebel Akdar, east of Barce, in close contact with the enemy, who is following up this movement in considerable strength. “On January 31, at Maraua, the Eleventh Indian Infantry Brigade carried out a successful counter-attack, in which many casualties were inflicted on the enemy. Yesterday the same brigade again counter-attacked and checked the enemy in the Slonta area. “In the area north-east of Msus, our mobile columns continue their offensive activity. Yesterday an enemy mechanised column was engaged, and four vehicles were captured, with some prisoners. Throughout the course of yesterday’s' operations, our air forces continued to render effective support to our operations on land, while our bombers, during the night of January 31, attacked mechanical transport columns in the area El Agheila—Jedabaya, starting a number of fires. The Seventh Indian Infantry Brigade, which was covering Benghazi before our evacuation of the town and port, has now returned to its bases in Eastern Cyrenaica almost intact as regards fighting personnel. During the night of January 28, when the decision to evacuate Benghazi was taken after the encirclement of the area by strong Axis forces, this brigade decided to break out southwards. This operation was successfully carried out in face of abnormally difficult conditions. Surrounded by German and Italian tank formations, strongly supported by motorised infantry, the Seventh Indian Infantry Brigade boldly broke through, inflicting casualties and taking prisoners in the course of their march over 200 miles of desert, in most of which enemy columns were operating. “The necessary engineer and other units to carry out the prearranged demolition programme at Benghazi had perforce to be left behind, and it is feared that they were unable to effect their withdrawal.”