Second Great Tank Offensive Begins

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1941, Page 7

Second Great Tank Offensive Begins

ENCIRCLING MOVE

Enemy Raiding Force Now Falling Back Under Pressure

r & (United Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. 2 p.m.) LONDON, November 26. It is understood in Cairo that the second great British tank offensive has begun, says the Daily Express correspondent, lhe british are reported to be making a new wide encircling movement westward around General Rommel's remaining groups in the bid! Kezegh area, in order to out-flank and cut off the enemy from his bases at Gazala and Derna. The battle of Libya is still raging furiously, with heavy losses on both sides, resulting in a certain amount of reorganisation states a Cairo message. The battle is possibly now reaching a fresh climax. The New Zealanders, driving westward with tanks, have now joined the South Africans and the British troops in the Sidi Kezegh area, says the military spokesman in Cairo. The New Zealanders advance to Sidi Rezegh was slowed down as a result of finding a number of enemy "pockets" consisting of lorry-borne infantry, which were mopped up. •As a result of fierce counter-attacks the Germans to-day were not so closely encircled as they were four or five days ago but this is of httle importance, as the present position offers an equally good opportunity to destroy German armoured forces as previously. The British reinforcements which have reached the battle area include tanks and infantry. The Germans are desperately trying to bring up reinforcements. Mainly as a result of their speed the American tanks have suttered the lowest proportion of knock-out casualties. "Destroy enemy tanks, was the order given to everybody in the field and all are now following it. The battle will be won by pursuing this objective, but hard fighting is still ahead. Tobruk Garrison Pushing Eastwards A Cairo communique quoted by British Official Wireless states that throughout yesterday British and South African troops in the general area of Sidi Rezegh held their ground while New Zealand reinforcements, with important British tank formations, were steadily making progress westwards in the face of considerable opposition. In the meantime British forces from Tobruk, supported by tanks, steadily penetrated eastwards from the original positions captured in the first two days of the sally. This force has now added to the number of prisoners taken and has also captured held guns. f Sldl ze , g k, area ' w hich remains the main battle tront, the German High Command has also brought up reinforcements and another heavy clash is expected to develop to-day. Considerable British tank reinforcements, previously held in reserve have now reached the forward areas, where Empire armoured formations are rapidly reorganising, after five days of ZtTsdi Rezegh, " SUme ' heir P "' in ,K ' mai " operation in » out h British and South African mechanised forces, * {nd»an troops, captured Gialo, taking 200 Italian prisoners together with quantities of stores and equipment Operations in this region continue to develop satisfactorily. German Raid On Frontier the J^n anWhll r in a u effort to , divert attention and forces from IcairXnTTk ' the l enei ? l y has st aged a raid on a substantial r' a u- the general axis across the frontier south of Sidi beTwLn H a S lf" a P g colu^ n c^ as last located in the area mid-way between Hal fay a Pass and Sid, Omar. From Gabr Salh onwards fights 011 y a " acked b ° th bombers and by low-flying When about to cross the frontier this enemy raiding column was engaged by field guns and tanks, losing about one-third of its estimated strength in tanks. British mobile columns with tanks have now been organised to deal with this diversion. The German diversionary force is falling back westwards "" A r P re . SßUre of Empire mobile columns, reports the Daily Telegraph Ca,ro correspondent. Although the action also menaced coaxal n Cr v Empire forces lying opposite the German coastal positions, it was primarily intended to draw off British Tfk 8 j° m ,( ? 1 Re "g h - The column failed to do this as a result the British forces. Rommel's tanks have no battle WCre red ' to return for a new Rezegh Empire aircraft continue to co-operate with bombing attacks on enemy motor transports and armoured fighting vehicles and attack ntratl ° nS m I"'® arCa ' i ° ne Particularly successful vehkLs°beiriß clamagedf ' * " Umber