IMPORTANT ROLE OF N.Z.E.F. IN AFRICA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 283, 29 November 1941, Page 8

IMPORTANT ROLE OF N.Z.E.F. IN AFRICA

CLEARING POCKETS Infantry Pays Nazis Back For Crete K:; I pm. LONDON. Nov. 2S. o fficwar correspondent :~.0 N.ZE.F. states that the New a "tiers have completed conwith Tobruk. They continue to p'.ay an important part in the battle ar.d are advancing west of Sid: Rezegh. New Zealand infantry is tv.rr.ine the tables on the German infantry after Crete and Greece. The <-.ir support is excellent. New Zealanders in other areas are clearing up pockets of Axis resistance. ''Viewed ail round, the situation inspires confidence." said a Cairo military spokesman to-night, "but it must be emphasised that we are not yet out of the heavy fighting and will not be for a long time. The enemy -till has a large number of German infantry and guns at his disposal." An expert in T.oncion. commenting on the Cairo communique, said this afternoon that to east of Tobruk there remain various pockets of enemv resistance which are being engaged. There is no evidence that the German armoured forces which were to the east of Tobruk have broken out in anv direction. It now appears that the British have formed quite a distinct line, which is moving in a westerly direction against the considerable main Axis forces, which have always been to the west of Tobruk. Crucial Tobruk Battle The Daily Express correspondent with the "Eighth Army says a crucial battle is in progress near Tobruk, where the enemy is desperatelv trying to reopen the gap. The whole area on both sides of the iunction swarms with enemy troops, ianks and guns attacking from both right and left. Battles continue to range around the New Zealanders. German and Italian armoured formations are violently counter-attacking and doing iheir utmost to split the newlyjoined units. It was one such earlier thrust which drove the British back from Sidi Rezegh. eight miles southeast to Sidi Mufta. Then the New Zealanders drove the Germans back again, taking Sidi Rezegh, pushing on to Bir-el-Hamed oasis, four miles to the north, and then making contact with the force from Tobruk on the fortified knoll at El Duda.

A Cairo headquarters communique states: South-east of Tobruk the British and New Zealand forces, which yesterday made direct contact, are forging their way westward in the face of determined opposition. At the same time, east of their point of junction, enemy detachments, still in considerable strength are being engaged.

Meanwhile the enemy raiding column, swelled by the German elements which had. joined it from the defensive position between. Halfaya and Sidi Omar, moved to the westward with the evident intention of trying to rejoin the main Axis forces engaged in the battle west of Sidi Rezegh. This westward movement is being conducted in two main bodies.

Shortly after midday yesterday the northern body, which included a number of German tanks, was effectively engaged 12 miles south of Gambut by our bomber aircraft. It was subsequently heavily attacked by British armoured forces which had been dispatched to intercept its return. After two hours' intensive fighting the enemy was reported to have scattered and a large number of vehicles were observed moving north-west towards Gambut. Intense Air Activity Over the whole battle area our air forces successfully continued their intensive activities in support of our ground troops. North and north-west of El Adem large concentrations of enemy mechanical transport and vehicles were attacked and machine-gunned with highly satisfactory results.

Shot down by German troops and captured, a lieutenant in a squadron of naval aircraft escaped when Blenheim bombers of the R.A.F. carried out. an attack on the column conveying him westwards. The pilot returned to his base with a tank corp officer, who had escaped with him. Heavy Shipping l/osses The rate of destruction of Axis shipping by the Mediterranean Fleet during the last two months has been kept at the high level maintained during August and September. An analysis of the Admiralty communiques shows that 68 ships of all kinds have been sunk or damaged from October 1 to November 28, compared with 71 in the previous two months. A steady stream of tens of thousands of Canadian-built motor vehicles is pouring into Egypt, said the munitions Minister, Mr. Howe, in Ottawa.