DESERT THRUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1942, Page 3

DESERT THRUST

MADE BY FREE FRENCH FROM CHAD CAPTURE OF FEZZAN & OTHER POST. PRISONERS AND MATERIAL TAKEN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 7. Activities in Libya are described by the military authorities as being in the nature of sparring by both sides. A communique issued in Cairo states that activity was again confined to patrolling. The garrison of an enemy post was captured by a Free French column. Other Free French forces captured an enemy position at Fezzan after violent fighting. The weather restricted air activity. Italian prisoners and much material fell into Allied hands when the enemy position at Fezzan was captured. Free French headquarters in London announcing this, states that the motorised forces effecting the capture were under General Leclerc, who commands the Free French forces in Chad —the northernmost territory in Free French Africa. Chad has a common frontier with Libya and forces from here have already made similar raids on a smaller scale. MINOR ENGAGEMENTS ENEMY DETACHMENTS SHELLED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.58 a.m.) RUGBY, March 8. A Middle East communique states: “Our artillery successfully shelled the enemy during engagements between our mobile columns and enemy detachments. “Enemy aircraft were active in the forward area, but our casualties were light. Our own Air Force carried but interception flights.”