Evening star., 1942-02-06
British Stand Firm
After Being Driven
Nearly 10 Tobruk
Go R. A. F. InfIicts Heavy
Losses on Lenethening
Axis Supply Lines

LONDON, Feb. 6. British
desert fighters, hurled back to
the approaches of Tobruk, stiff
fened their lines appreciably to-
day while r. A. F. planes hurled
destruction into the heightened
Axis supply lines.
A British headquarters commu-
nique at Cairo said there had been
no change in the land situation yes
terday, indicating the Imperials
were standing firm some SO to 60
miles west Of Tobruk, where q Brit
ish garrison successfully withstood
u seven-month siege.
Axis communiques, heard here by
radio. bore this out. The Germans
spoke vaguely Of pursuit Of the en-
emy In Eastern Cirenaica" and the
italians claimed the capture Of
Tnimi, go miles west Of Tobruk.
The Italians added that they were
continuing their pursuit" Of the
British "in the vicinity of Ain Ell
Gazala," which is some 80 miles
west Of Tobruk-but they made no
claim to capture OF the town.
Axis Holds Initiative.
The Axis still holds the initiative,
q military commentator said, but he
added that the main British force
had not yet engaged the Germans
and Italians in a large-scale battle
The only big British contingent
which has fought the Axis in this
fourth conquest of the desert was at
Bengasi, and there "only part Of our
main force was engaged"
He declared there was no ofncial
information as to just how far the
Germans had penetrated east Of
Derna and that he was not able to
confirm an Axis report that their
troops were now near Ain FL GaZala.
The mechanical reinforcements
and supply columns Of Field Mar
shal Gen. Erwin Rommel were at
tackled in the green mountains Of the
Jebel Ell Akdar region at the top Of
the Libyan hump. The British said
q large number of vehicles were de-
stroyed and burned and that many
casualties were inflicted on the Ger
mans and Italians.
British Hold Out Stubbornly.
The British apparently held stub
bornly to the fiat desert region
south of the Jebel El Akdar. and
their columns have been active on
patrol duties as far west as Msus,
sbout 10 miles southeast of Axis
held Bengasi.
Military observers long have con-
sidered the mountain region almost
undefensible and easily f1anked.
This has been borne out by the
relative ease with which the area
was taken by the British and twice
by the Germans in the violently see
saving campaign.
It appeared possible today that
the British had decided to make
stand at the eastern extremity OF
the mountain region.
The British, at the outset Of the
campaign three months ago, asserted
that their aim was to annihtlate
Gen. Rommels army rather than
capture miles Of desert sand.
Could Be Encircled.
But If the Axis has been able to
dispatch sufficient reinforcements OF
men and material across the perilous
Mediterranean, the British them
selves in the desert south OF the
mountains may face encirclement.
British bombers ranged deep into
Tripontania, paying special attention
to a motor transport park south OF
the chief supply base of Tripoh.
Many explosions and fires visible for
miles were observed.
Communications in the Agedabia
area were bombed and road conveys
near Derna were attacked by fighter
planes. The r. A. F. communique
said several fuel-carrying vehicles
were destroyed.
Axis aircraft, attempting to bomb
a British airdrome, were intercepted
and q Messerschmitt was shot down.
Other enemy planes in the forma-
ton were damaged.
The British said they lost no
planes.
Axis bombers returned to the at
tack on Malta and the British
ackpouledped some DAMAGE