STILL DELAYED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 February 1942, Page 3

STILL DELAYED

EXPECTED NAZI THRUST IN LIBYA INTENSIVE AIR ACTIVITY. ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED OR DAMAGED. LONDON, February 24. Rommel’s expected thrust in Libya is still delayed and Axis patrols continue to withdraw after encountering our advance forces. During this lull on land, there is considerable air activity by our fighters over the forward area. In one air engagement yesterday, a German plane was shot down and others were badly damaged. The landing ground at Martuba was bombed by the R.A.F. and bombs fell among scattered aircraft, causing a number of fires. Air reconnaissance over Mekili shows that the place is strongly held and is being fortified. ATTACKS ON MALTA ENEMY BOMBER SHOT DOWN & FIGHTERS DAMAGED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, February 24. A British Middle East communique states:—“The enemy continued to attack Malta on Sunday night and on the following day. There was some damage and a few casualties were caused. One Junkers was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and a number of Messerschmitt 109 s were seriously damaged by our fighters. “Three of our aircraft are missing from operations in the Middle East.”