Tobruk Collapses At First Axis Attack

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13673, 22 June 1942, Page 3

Tobruk Collapses At First Axis Attack

TUBE OF GARRISON CLAIMED BY ENEMY

Assault Preceded By Terrific Air Bombardment

B \RDIA ALSO OCCUPIED BY GERMANS

London, -Tunc 21. /. ■ , mpssa"e states Hint the situation around Tobruk is preThP Germans in the latest reports claim that the fortress ... ; n their lianas. "'•.. tions thai bad news might be expected in the near future Mned in the last messages from Cairo. The mid-day com- ■° n 'saicl thai the enemy had launched a terrific attack on the ' !llt rpsterday and had penetrated inside the defences on one * r ; , considerable area. The attack was preceded by a ■L a ir bombardment. _ ",,. ~,„ and Italian sources say tlflat their troops then stormed ,' n .,|.< nf the defences and that a British officer advanced ';.,„;, flag of truce, i •" ninsirlpred in Cairo that there is no doubt that the garrison [| IS CO" 1 " 1 ' , a critical position. T bruk which held out against the enemy for a period of seven h in the previous campaign, has now collapsed at the first % k stated that it was never attacked on so heavy a scale Tie loss of Tobruk makes tilings easier for the Germans but it sidered that despite all this the Bth Army still has the will and * m m to stage a recovery. It is now believed that the second advance which Avas made , enemy columns towards the Egyptian frontier was carried • order to test the weight of our forces in this direction and the •ibility of an Allied flank attack while the Germans were conitrating <m Tobruk. The Germans have also occupied Bardia. . ist ni'dit enein y planes were over our forward positions near ■ Egyptian frontier. The R.A.F. made further attacks on the enemy bases at : „],a.si, Tmimi and also in Greece and Crete last night,