PATROL ACTIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1942, Page 3

PATROL ACTIONS

REPORTED IN LIBYA ENEMY PRISONERS TAKEN. AXIS MERCHANT VESSEL HIT IN MEDITERRANEAN. LONDON, March 11. In Libya our forces successfully engaged enemy patrols. The enemy withdrew leaving prisoners. On Monday our aircraft attacked Benghazi and Martuba. Naval aircraft scored a hit on a merchant vessel in the Central Mediterranean. ENEMY LOSSES INCLUDE SOME MECHANICAL TRANSPORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY. March 11. A Cairo communique states: “Our fighting patrols had a series of engagements with the enemy and despite the strength of the enemy patrols, which included artillery, and. in at least one case tanks, they were all compelled to withdraw, leaving prisoners and suffering the loss of some mechanical transport from our shellfire. The Air Force gave effective support.” AIR ACTIVITY PLANE LOSSES OVER MALTA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, March 11. A R.A.F. Middle East communique says: “Our fighters again were active in a forward area in Cyrenaica. The enemy landing ground at Martuba was bombed and machine-gunned on Monday night and Benghazi harbour was bombed. “Naval aircraft attacked a merchant vessel in the central Mediterranean. “In enemy attacks on Malta on Monday and Tuesday one Messerschmitt 109 was shot down by our fighters, which damaged a number of others. One Junkers 88 and a Messerschmitt 109 were shot down by the ground defences. Three of our planes are missing.”