RAPID DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 280, 26 November 1941, Page 7

RAPID DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT

MANY m COMBATS

Battle May Continue For Three More Days U.P.A. and British Wireless. Sec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 25. The R.A.F. Middle East comliunique states that transport and irmoured fighting vehicles, as well is encampments, stores and supply lumps in the Libyan battle zone vere successfully attacked by Smpire bombers yesterday. Outstanding results were obtained on oad transport, and a machine-gun-iing attack was made on enemy notor transport east of El Adem.

Empire fighters were active during the day, and in the Gialo region one p9 aircraft was shot down and a lumber of CR42's were damaged. A Wesserschmitt 110 was intercepted fver one Empire landing ground and Vas last seen making off with smoke j>ouring from one engine.

During Sunday night the aeroIromes at Berka and Benina were aided. At Berka bombs fell among ispersed aircraft and a fire broke 'Ut in the aerodrome buildings. At lenina a large fire was started in ne hangar. All the planes returned afely from these operations.

It is officially stated in Cairo that rom the beginning of the Libyan ffensive, from dawn on November 8 until midnight on November 23, he R.A.F. operating in this theatre f war destroyed 119 enemy airraft—sl in aerial combats and 68 n the ground. Owing to the difficult ature of the terrain and the fluctuating area of the land battle, it is ot possible accurately to assess nem y aircraft losses day by day.

Bitter Hand-to-Hand Fighting Military circles jn Cairo have no ews of attempts to recapture Gamut, the loss of which is a serious low to the enemy, states the offiJ a ' war correspondent with the I.Z.E.F. It is known, however, that ockets of resistance continue and }opping-up is in progress. There are igns that the tank battle has defeased in intensity, and it is anticiated that infantry casualties will lot be heavy, despite most bitt«r iand-to-hand fighting, in which the layonet has been used.

The Indian Division, which went into battle alongside the New Zealanders. is now engaged to the east of Halfaya, while the New Zealand force has effectively cut off the retreat of the enemy. The N.Z.E.F. has again demonstrated its qualities in battle, and a military spokesman said: "The New Zealanders have been given a job to do and appear to be doing it well."

The battle has settled down in the immediate surroundings of Sidl Rezegh, where the Germans have concentrated what remains of their two panzer divisions, states an earlier message. All reports indicate the fierceness of the battle, with savage and bitter engagements, m the course of which the South Africans probably had the greatest fight of their history. It is unanimously agreed that they fought magnificently. Fifty, if not more, German tanks were destroyed on Sunday. The situation is still most confused. Empire aviation losses cannot be compared with the enemy's, and all are being quickly replaced. English Brigade "Magnificent" The panzer divisions tried to break out by a wide sweep, but were held. A correspondent says the English brigade opposing the enemy was magnificent, and the English artillery was, as usual, supreme. The struggle, it is reported, may last for another three or four days. A German and Italian counter-at-tack lasted throughout Sunday. A correspondent states that enemy tanks began pushing east from a point 20 miles south of Tobruk. He could hear about 50 tanks coming from the west, and on the horizon could be seen columns of black smoke as tanks were struck by artillery fire and set alight. All round columns of sand were sent spurting into the air It was a bloody but inconclusive battle, and at dark the enemy withdrew.

In another action one British force was attacked from the east and tiie west simultaneously, but it fougnt its way out. The brigadier led nis men into battle in a staff car, and when it was only 800 yards away from the enemy he stood on the roof and surveyed the area through his field glasses. In another engagement a senior officer led his men in a tank, taking up one of the gun positions.

The first wounded, including some Germans, reached Cairo on Monday from the Libyan battlefield. Air ambulances are bringing the more severely wounded.