TENSION IN LIBYA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1942, Page 4

TENSION IN LIBYA

BOTH SIDES WATCHFUL CONSIDERABLE PATROL ACTIVITY. AIR & OTHER OPERATIONS. LONDON. March 1. In Libya both sides are watching each other closely. Yesterday there was considerable patrol activity in the no man’s land separating the opposing forces. East of Mekili our artillery successfully engaged an enemy force. Further air attacks have been made on enemy bases and off the coast of North Africa a naval aircraft shot down a Junkers bomber which had previously been damaged. Two of our aircraft are missing from these and other operations, but one of the pilots is safe. CAPTURED TANKS AND FRENCH TRANSPORT. BEING USED BY NAZIS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) CAIRO, February 28. British troops rejoining their lines around Gazala report that the Germans are using a number of British tanks. Those returned estimate that 35 per cent of Axis desert transport is French. ROMMEL RUMOURS AIR JOURNEY TO BERLIN REPORTED. NEW YORK, February 28. “The Times” Ankara correspondent says it is reported without confirmation that General Rommel flew from North Africa to Rome and Vienna this week, en route to Berlin, possibly to assume command on the eastern front, thereby indicating a change in Axis tactics in the Libyan campaign. However, foreign military experts in Ankara doubt that General Rommel will be transferred to the Russian front. They believe he will participate in the German staff talks in Berlin, to which the Nazi High Command has summoned all chiefs of military, naval and air missions throughout Europe. Allied military officials in Ankara are considerably disturbed over General Rommel’s flight. PUNISHING RAIDS MADE ON ENEMY BASES. DAMAGE DONE AT TRIPOLI & BENGHAZI. (Received This Day. 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY, March 1. A Cairo communique reports: “Our air forces provided support for our patrols. The R.A.F. on Friday night raided objectives in Tripoli and Benghazi. At Tripoli bombs were seen to explode in the harbour area, on Castello and the railway yards and the Karamanlie Mole. A violent explosion followed by a fire wa§ caused on the Cathedral Mole at Benghazi. Bad weather yesterday limited the operations in Cyrenaica. Our fighters, however, continued their patrolling activities.”