ACTION FORCED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 November 1942, Page 4

ACTION FORCED

ON GERMANS SOUTH OF BENGHAZI MONTGOM E R Y 'G 1N TERC E P TIN G MOVE. DETAILS AWAITED IN LONDON. LONDON, November 19. It is reported that General Montgomery has forced into action German forces south of Benghazi, but no details are yet given. SMASHING BLOWS AT AXIS SEA & AIR TRANSPORT. STRUCK BY BRITISH PLANES. (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY, November 19. The way in which Rommel is being deprived of his much-needed oil is described by a Cairo correspondent who gives an account of the sinking of an enemy tanker in the Mediterranean.',. The correspondent says that, during the ceaseless watch the R.A.F. maintains over the Central Mediterranean, a convoy was located making at great speed towards Tripoli. It was a tanker convoyed by destroyers, ana our aircraft-carrying torpedoes went straight m to the attack, despite an intense fire from the destroyers and two torpedoes hit the tanker amidships, causing terrific explosions. None of our aircraft were damaged, and within ten minutes the tanker. heeled completely over, with oil pouring out of her. „„ . „ Last Tuesday the R.A.F. ‘Sudan, squadron scored its hundredth victory, in a brilliant operation resulting in the destruction of at least eleven enemy aircraft. It intercepted a formation of enemy transport planes above a large aerodrome near Benghazi, shooting down seven in the air. Four more were destroyed on the ground, while a nirther Junkers 52 was damaged. Apparently all the planes were carrying petrol, because huge fires resulted. ENEMY REARGUARD ATTACKED ON ESCARPMENT. SOUTH-EAST OF BENGHAZI. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, November 19. Advance units of the Eighth Army are approaching Benghazi. One British column yesterday fought an action against the enemy on the escarpment between Sceleidima, 50 miles southeast of Benghazi and Antelat, 30 miles south of Sceleidima. The escarpment runs north and south, about twenty miles inland from the coast between Benghazi and Agedabia. It is noi known whether it was a serious clas , but it is believed that it was part of an enemy rearguard delaying action. The enemy presumably formed a defensive position along the escarpment in order to protect his transport moving along the coastal road. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent declared that signs now point to an attempt by Rommel to evacuate as many German troops as he can from Tripoli. He is rushing as many men as possible towards this base, but he will probably leave strong rearguards between Benghazi and El Agheila to delay the British advance and give him time to get Broadcasting from Cairo, a R.A.F. officer said that at least 500 and Italian .planes had thus xar been found destroyed on captured enemy airfields.