EVENTS IN LIBYA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1942, Page 3

EVENTS IN LIBYA

MINOR CLASHES IN FORWARD AREAS HEAVY BRITISH AIR ATTACKS. EIGHT ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED AT MALTA. LONDON, April 9. In Libya Axis forces macle no further attempt to advance yesterday. Our forward troops attacked an enemy' body trying to establish a strongpoint and took some prisoners. One of our patrols clashed with the enemy at Sidi Brigisch, 36 miles south of Tmimi.

Authoritative quarters in London say it is not yet clear whether the increased enemy activity in Libya portends an new offensive. Our bombers continue to make heavy attacks on the enemy’s rear. Benghazi and the landing grounds at Barce and Derna were among the targets. Large fires at Benghazi showed the success of our attack. Two of our planes are missing from all Middle East operations.

Further heavy attacks were made on Malta yesterday and on the previous night. As many as'. 100 bombers may have been used. Four bombers and four fighters were shot down and ethers were probably destroyed. There was some damage to service property.

ALL=OUT BLITZ

THE AXIS ONSLAUGHT ON MALTA. BEARING ON POSITION IN LIBA. LONDON, April 8. The Luftwaffe is flinging in every bomber that can be spared in an all-out blitz against Malta, as General Rommel shows unmistakable signs of moving in Libya. The bombing of Malta has been going on in growing intensity for 16 days and nights, culminating in yesterday’s greatest blitz, when six mass raids were made, all strongly protected by fighters. A Valetta message reports that nine Axis planes were destroyed, four probably destroyed and eight damaged in the 24 hours to 7 p.m., during the heaviest air raids yet made on Malta. The island has now had 2000 alerts. The enemy machines approached the harbour, which was the main target from all directions, but their formations broke in the face of terrific fire from the harbourside defences. The “Daily Herald’s” Valetta correspondent says that all types of bombs have rained down on the ancient city. In every street there is devastation and destruction. It is impossible to walk 50 paces without passing a wrecked building. Information has reached London that General Rommel’s forces in Libya have been considerably reinforced. He at present commands more Germans than ever before. The 15th and 21st divisions which the British badly mauled in November have regained full strength. Rommel, it is believed, also commands an Italian armoured division and possibly six Italian infantry divisions.

NO CLEAR INDICATION OF ENEMY INTENTIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, April 9. Informed quarters here have no further information regarding increased enemy activity in Libya. It is not yet evident whether this is a preliminary to an attack or not. While the size of the Axis columns whose movements are reported in last night’s Cairo communique is unknown, it is thought that the use of comparatively strong forces might be necessary if the intention were to test the crust of our defences, to see what lay behind. The weather in Libya will become extremely hot about the middle of May, but it is pointed out that the weather on the Russian front was expected to be 100 cold by last November for important operations; yet belligerent armies during the present war appear to be disregarding “weather rules.”