N.Z.E.F. In Hand-To-Hand Fighting

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 279, 25 November 1941, Page 7

N.Z.E.F. In Hand-To-Hand Fighting

FIERCE EXCHANGES

Germans Rushing Aircraft And Troops To Libyan Front

(L.P.A. and British Official Wireless.— Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 24. The Cairo military spokesman said there had been a con centrated tank battle m Libya for the past 48 hours, but the Wh S sfd r e e g C g J 6 "! 1 , \ nd " it more on both sides. Considerable hand-to-hand fighting has occurred and the a.r opposition has increased, but the enemy is concentrating in back areas rather than on the battlefield. R v k hC in M ntr V Pf rtici P ate d the Rezegh battle comprised Britishers, New Zealanders and South Africans, who fought in the open without trenches. ° „ . Th f British United Press correspondent with the R.A.F. at the desert headquarters has reported that the Germans and Italians are rushing aerial reinforcements to Libya. Germany in desperate haste has sent Messerschmitts, including the newest ypes, to Tripoli, Crete and Italy. The results are already apparent More German fighters were in the air or, Sunday than on any previous day. The Italians are flying bombers and fighters to Libya in large numbers, and fully laden Junkers 52 troop-carrying arr ' Ving Libya> brin ging reinforcements for New Zealanders In Gambut Steady progress by the New Zealand forces, culminating in the capture of Gambut, is reported in the latest Middle East communique issued in Cairo to-day, which states: "The main battle R n V German forces continued in the area about Sid. Rezegh Tins battle, which is being fought with the utmost resolution by both sides, has been in progress without cessation for over '48 hours. Meanwhile the New Zealand forces which captured Sidi Aziez and Capuzzo have continued their move westwards and have captured Gambut, an important enemy supply centre halfway between Tobruk and Bardia. In the Sidi Omar area Indian troops continue their operations in the rear of enemy defensive positions which at present are cut off from the west. The British forces from Tobruk are consolidating the ground they have taken 1 hey report the capture, among other material, of a number of enemy field guns In connection with the tank battle our air forces continued their successful bombing and machine-gunning attacks on «nemv armoured forces and mechanical transport connections in the battle area." German Panzers Hitting Back Hard The fighting around Sidi Rezegh is hourly becoming more intense and more furious, says The Times Cairo correspondent Kommel s panzers are hitting back with wild desperation as the British draw in Owing to the tank casualties the fighting is now over a relatively smaller area, although the area is still large. of ar v n ° de f nite lines in a fixed plan, merely masses attalTnl I?''? 1 m * noe ™ing, attacking and counterj® n k ng : I* IS }° e ® rl y to . say whether the Germans' main supply clumps at Gambut have been seized. L,„ ,T h ' British supply arrangements are functioning excellently, „ j»"7 la indisputably encountering serious difficulties. h « stressed that the battle in essence i, being fought bomfbv ,h 8 5". d ' he th = brunt befng and"&£ ~Sour e A',ric°,n P s" °' wUeh E "*'" h

R A R 18 P red ° mi nantly English. These forces are 3 ? the contention that man for man and machine for machine the British are more than a match for the Germans. battl, R f, Ut now COrres P° ndent Cairo says the area in which the battle is now raging is very broken, with two escarpments and innumerable wadis nearby Under these conditions it would not be easy for either side to break off such bitter battles. British air superiority continues.