Show WISH BRITISH NAZIS CLASH IN LIBYA ROME nOME Feb 26 For INS INS For the first time since Adolf Hitler's army drew a sack around the British expeditionary force in Flanders and compelled the mass evacuation tion of men from Dunkerque Dunkerque Dunkerque Dun- Dun British and German land forces have come into contact it was revealed Wednesday The clash occurred southeast of in northern Libya according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to a issued by the high command and confirmed confirmed confirmed con con- firmed the arrival of German units on Italy's African battlefield British Lack Facts Editors Editor's note British sources said they had no confirm confirmation tion of the incident but admitted that I certain small forces of German I troops may have reached Libya from Sicily or the Italian main main- land In his unexpected address on Sunday Premier Mussolini disclosed disclosed disclosed dis dis- dis- dis closed German mechanized or panzer units bad reached Libya to strengthen Italy's defenses The first battle after their arrival presumably presumably presumably pre pre- occurred only a few hours after he had finished speaking There were no details and no indication that the clash was of ol any severity On the contrary available Information information information In- In in in- formation indicates the exchange of shots was merely between reconnaissance reconnaissance reconnaissance re re- re- re units probably consisting consisting con con- consisting of fast armored cars and small gun carriers rather than tanks Lies Near lies some miles south of near the southeastern southeastern southeastern south south- eastern extremity of the gulf of Definite confirmation that German German German Ger Ger- man units are in action however attracted considerable attention in Rome note In Berlin the German high command claimed a number of British motor cars including in In- In eluding several armed reconnaissance reconnaissance reconnaissance sance machines were captured and some prisoners taken There were no losses losses- on the German side it w was s said Italian sources had no information information information tion for publication as to the number number num num- ber of German troops now in Libya Lib Lib- Lib Lib- ya The fact that Premier Mussolini Mus Mus- soli i gave gaye emphasis to their arrival arrival ar ar- ar- ar rival however led to general belief belief belief be be- lief that vastly increased land engagements engagements en eo may soon be anticipated in the African theater |