Evening star., 1942-04-09
Advanced Axis Troop,
Captured in Libya,
British Report
Air Attacks on Malta
Appear Now at Peck;
ltoIy Claims q Success

Appear Now at Peck;
ItoIy Claims q Success
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, April 9.-Axis ef-
forts to knock out the British
Island of Malta with mass raids
appeared today to have reached
their peak coincident with the
resumption of activity in Libya
by the forces of German Field
Marshall Erwin Rommel.
The German italian raids on
Malta, staunch bar to Axis plans
for domination of the Mediter-
ranean, have been on the increase
for 16 days and nights, ever since
the last British convoy eluded the
Italian fleet and sailed into port on
the island.
The city Of Valletta and its sub
urbs were said to show acres Of
dust-strewn ruins-but still the
island forces fought back against
the endless shattering bombing
assaults.
Axis Troops Captured.
In the Libyan fighting British
headquarters In Cairo announced
that a number of Axis soldiers had
been captured from a detachment
which was trying to establish
strong point between Tmimi and
Ain Ell Gazala.' Ain Ell Gazala is
40 miles west of Tobruk and Tmimi
20 miles further west of that British
held port.
One of our columns is engaging
the enemy at Sidi Bregisch," the
communique said, indicating swift
counteraction to meet the threat
of a new drive by Marshal Rom
mels German and Italian Army.
The enemy did not attempt to
advance further yesterday" the
communique added.
The r. A. F. In Cairo told OF con-
tinued heavy Axis air attacks against
bomb-battered Malta throughout
yesterday and said there was some
damage to service property"
Four Junkers 88 bombers and four
Messerschmitt-10 fighters were shot
down land many other enemy air.
craft were probably destroyed or
badly damaged" a communique said.
Two British planes were listed as
missing.
Declare British RepuIsed.
The Italian communique. broad
cast from Rome, said British at
tacks on advanced Axis positions
in Eastern Libya were repulsed.
One British plane was shot down
in an air attack against the garrison
of Gialo, oasis outpost $50 miles
west of the Egyptian frontier, the
Italian high command said.
German and Italian air forma-
tions have again bombed Alexandria
British naval base) with great
effect" its communique reported.
British air bases at Luca. La
Venicia and Valetta. all on Malta.
we're said to have been heavily at
tackled by German squadrons.
Nazis Return to Malta.
The Germans subjected Malta to
its worst raid of the year Tuesday
and were back in mass formations
again yesterday for raids on the
harbor and airdromes.
Well-posted observers, scanning
Malta communiques, said the Axis
apparently was concentrating on the
islands airports and noted with
some concern official reports that
defending fighter planes were
badly outnumbered. They speculated
whether this meant some landing
fields in Malta already had been
made unserviceable or whether the
maintenance of the fighter planes
had been hampered by the raids.
The Malta communique last night
said r. A. F. fighters destroyed or
damaged 13 planes yesterday while
anti-aircraft batteries accounted for
eight planes destroyed or damaged.
Decisive Fight Seen.
Meanwhile, the British and the
Axis were ready to hurl their big
Near East forces into the next round
of the battle for Libya-even now
the action may have started-and
there was evidence on both sides of
determination to make the fight de-
cisive this time.
British imperial forces, with tanks
and planes. we're reported in consid-
cradle force southwark from Ain FL
Gazala.
The British have with them in
Libya a number of Allied units, in
cluding contingent of Poles. The
whole force is heavily armored-
thanks to United States supplies
pouring in to the Near East
Despite reports Of increased enemy
activity in Libya. a British military
commentator said today 1t was not
yet evident whether this was pre-
liminary to large-scale attack.
Two or three columns were be-
lieved operating in the area in front
of the British lines and there was
speculation whether these were try
ing to penetrate the "outer crust" of
British defenses for information or
prepare the way for q full-scale