WILD MELEES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 296, 13 December 1940, Page 7

WILD MELEES.

TERRIFIC STRUGGLES. Hand-To-Hand Fighting At Desert Wells. (Reed. 1 ..'SO p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 12. Marshal Graziani, the Italian commander, is reported to have withdrawn the Libyan Camel Corps and the Libyan Cavalry from the Western Desert and thrown 1(100 motorised units into action in an effort to halt the British advance. It is unofficially reported that there was a terrific series of battles around wells and waterholes in the Western Desert. Some wild melees between Biitish and Italian tanks and armoured cars became so entangled that the crews leaped from their machines and fought with "hand grenades. "The importance of the capture of Sidi Karrani lies in the fact that we iia\e taken large ijuantitie.s of npiipinent and stores, facilitating a further advance. The British -m-cess i< the outcome of well-planned strategy iu which the British armoured unit* first attacked ,he enemy's right flank and then forced their way to the rear, while a fierce Uritish frontal attack was launched a-jaiiist the enemy's positions at Mak--sil a. I.~> miles eastward.

"This frontal attack wa« i-omplet el\ succes.s| ul. I'll,, Italians, lindinv: tliemsi'.'xcs cut oil' from the rear and attacked ll'oni all sides. became demoralised.

"The capture of Sidi Karrani may be lightly claimed a great victory in the "ally stages of the Mritish offensive, 'I'ltl'er weakening Italian morale. It will also tremendously all'cct both Arab opinion, which .Mussolini has assiduously striven '.o cultivate, and political developments in the Balkans."

Authoritative circles in London say that, although the capture of Sidi Barrani is excellent news, the whole situation is still somewhat fluid. JAP. METAL SUPPLY. WASHINGTON", Dec. 12. It is officially stated that exports of iron and' steel scrap in November totalled .W.'IOO tons, compared with 1.1 IXH) tons in October. Tli • decrease is due to licensing, principally ciiineu against Japan.