EVENTS IN LIBYA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1942, Page 3

EVENTS IN LIBYA

STATEMENT BY MR ATTLEE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS Substantial Reinforcements Reaching Eighth Army EVERY POSSIBLE STEP BEING TAKEN TO RESTORE POSITION GENERAL BLAMEY DENIES DECISIVE DEVELOPMENT , LONDON, June 23. There is no official news from the Libyan front since a Cairo communique, issued ten hours ago, reported slight enemy activity and some movement of our motorised forces south of Fort Capuzzo. Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army Headquarters speaks of Axis troop movements opposite Fort Capuzzo, with some enemy units further south towards Sidi Omar. A strong column of enemy tanks and lorry-borne infantry has been sighted moving rapidly east of Tobruk, passing Gambut and still making headway. In the House of Commons, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, gave an account of the events leading up to the fall of Tobruk. Substantial land and air reinforcements for the Eighth Army were arriving in the Middle East and others were on their way. Every possible step, he said, was being taken to restore the position. Our land and air forces would stubbornly oppose any further advance by the enemy. The fight for Libya was still going on. • A British Official Wireless message states that Mr Attlee said the House of Commons would have an early opportunity of discussing Libya. He suggested waiting for a few days until a full statement could be made. Sir Stafford Cripps promised two days for a Libyan debate. General Sir Thomas Blarney, Commander-inXJhief of the Australian land forces, said events in Libya had nothing like the significance recently given to them. So far there had been no decisive development. The Germans continue to raid Malta. During the last 24 hours one enemy bomber and one fighter have been destroyed and other fighters damaged.