MAIN BATTLE NOT YET JOINED

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23493, 22 November 1941, Page 9

MAIN BATTLE NOT YET JOINED

Imperial Troops 10 Miles From Tobruk 0/ . ' SWIFT DRIVE TO REAR OF GERMAN FORCES (united press association—copirioht.) (Received November 22, 2.10 a.m.) LONDON, November 21. The main battle in Libya has not yet been joined, it is stated authoritatively in London. Movements are going on and there is a certain amount of fighting, but nothing on a large scale yet. A communique issued by British General Headquarters in Cairo states: “By Wednesday night advance elements of Our forces had captured Rezegh, on the escarpment 10 miles southeast of the perimeter of Tobruk. A detachment of our armoured forces moving on this road successfully engaged Italian armoured troops in the region of Bir el Gobi, destroying a number of tanks and taking 150 prisoners. “Meanwhile, 30 miles west of Fort Gapuzzo, our tank units sighted German tanks in some strength, but these withdrew before they could be brought to battle. “While these operations were proceeding, pressure on the enemy holding defended localities between Halfaya and Sidi Omar was maintained. Operations continue to develop satisfactorily. “In close co-operation with the land forces our air forces were in action throughout the day, heavily attacking tanks and mechanical transport on the road south from Agedabia, while enemy aerodromes were successfully attacked.” General Sir Alan Cunningham’s spearheads seem to have made a great encircling drive, his left flank cutting across the rear of the German forces at Halfaya and Sidi Omar. These forces are under heavy pressure by bombardment from the air and the sea. Foreign military experts in Ankara predict that a tremendous tank battle will occur probably in the next two days as the ijttdvancing British forces make contact with the two German armoured divisions between Solium and Tobruk. This Nazi force is described as the crust of the Axis opposition in North Africa. The latest Italian communique says that bombs fell last night on Naples, Brindisi, and Messina, key points on the Mediterranean supply route which were also raided by the Royal Air Force on Wednesday night. It also says that Tripoli and Benghazi were bombed during the night, and it adds that on land the Italians have counter-attacked on the Libyan front.

MESSAGE SENT TO FORCES King Expresses His Confidence RESPONSIBILITIES EMPHASISED (Received November 21, 10.45 p.m.) LONDON, November 20. The text of Mr Churchill’s message to the Army and the Royal Air Force in the Western Desert and the Mediterranean Fleet before the commencement of the Libyan offensive, is:— “I have, in command from the King,’ to express His Majesty’s confidence that all ranks will do their duty with exemplary devotion in the supremely important battle lying before them. "For the first time, British and Empire troops meet the Germans with ample equipment in modern weapons of all kinds. "The battle itself will affect the whole course of the war. Now is the time to strike the hardest blow yet struck for final victory, home, and freedom. Thf Desert Army may add a page to history which will rank with Blenheim and Waterloo. "The eyes of all nations are upon you all. Our hearts are with you. May God uphold the right.” AXIS COMMENT ‘‘WE AWAIT EVENTS CALMLY” (Received November 21, 7 p.m.) LONDON, November 20. A military spokesman in Berlin, commenting on the British offensive, said: “We agree with the British that they will have no military walk-over in Libya. The military situation there is different from that of a year ago. We await developments calmly.” The Rome radio announced that the German and Italian watchword in Libya is; “They shall not pass.” General Cunningham, the announcer ■ said, had an arduous task. A.German communique claims that British forces were known to be stationed in prepared positions south and south-west of Sidi Omar for some days i before the attack began. As a result of immediate counter-attacks by German and Italian units, strong British forces west of Sidi Omar were thrown back with heavy losses.

NAVY SHELLS BASES SHARE IN LIBYAN OFFENSIVE HEAVY BOMBARDMENT AT NIGHT i (Received November 21, 7 LONDON, November 20. The Eastern Mediterranean Fleet was out in lull lor the Libyan offensive, says the correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain aboard H.M.S. Barham. The Battle Fleet covered the bombarding forces but did not encounter any Axis warships. Most of the shelling was directed against Halfaya, where the Axis had large ammunition dumps and supply bases, in addition to thousands of troops. . . . , ~, The Navy’s shells, it is believed, hit several dumps, causing violent explosions. The bombardment occurred shortly before midnight last night. Gunners manned every gun of the fleet when Axis-bombers shadowed the warships, keeping just beyond effective gun range. Then Royal Air Force aeroplanes came over and drove off the bombers. A single enemy aeroplane roared over at night at a height of 300 feet and dropped flares, but did not attempt to attack. . . . „ An Admiralty communique states that further successful attacks have been carried out by submarines against enemy supply ships in the Mediterranean. The Italian tanker Tampico (4958 tons) was torpedoed and seriously damaged. This ship was afterwards seen to be very deep m the waiter. A medium-sized German supply ship, which was heavily laden, and southbound, with two escorts, was torpedoed and almost certainly sunk. It is considered that one of the escorts was also A schooner, which was probably carrying petrol, was set ablaze by gunfire. COMMANDERS IN LIBYA THE CUNNINGHAMS AND CONINGHAM LONDON, November 20. The “old firm” is in business againthe old firm of Cunningham and Cunnineham. Now they have been joined by a new partner who by a curious coincidence, has an almost similar name— Coningham, whose name is pronounced Cunningham. . . Cunningham of Abyssinia (Sir Alan) commands the desert land forces, Cunningham of Taranto and Matapan (Sir Andrew), the general’s admiral brother, is on the general s right flank 3t At 3 the general’s side, close enough for hourly conferences, is Coningham, the Air Force officer commanding the Western Desert. So the world watches and awaits events of which Cunningham. Cunningham, and Coningham are architects and builders.

ATTACKS BY R.A.F. Bombing of Enemy Tanks TRANSPORT HIT HEAVILY C8.0.W.) RUGBY, November 20. Further news of the support which the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force are giving to the Empire forces advancing into Cyrenaica is contained in a Royal Air Force communique from the Middle East, which states: “In close co-operation with the Imperial land forces our aircraft were in action over the frontier zone of the Western Desert throughout Wednesday.. “Enemy tanks and motor transport moving westward along the CapuzzoSollum road, and in the Gambut, Sidi Azeiz, Bardia, and El Adem areas were heavily bombed. “Four Junkers 88’s and two Messerschmitt 109’s were destroyed at Tmimi, and other enemy aircraft were severely damaged. At Sidi Azeiz, a Caproni bomber was destroyed on the ground. “An attack was also carried out by fighter aircraft of the South African Air Force on the aerodrome at Sidi Azeiz. Several Italian fighters burst into flames. Others were catching fire as our aircraft left. “Enemy motor transport on the road from El Agheila was effectively ma-chine-gunned, many vehicles being extensively. damaged. ‘‘During Tuesday night bomber aircraft of the Royal Air Force raided Tripoli, where a power station and harbour installations were attacked. ’ "On the same night Royal Air Force bombers raided Naples and Brindisi. At Naples hits were registered on the docks and marshalling yards, and fires broke out in the dock area at Brindisi. “From all these operations three of our aircraft are missing.” Rome radio reported that the Royal Air Force raided Naples and Brindisi again on Wednesday night. INTEREST TAKEN BY NEUTRALS TURKISH POLITICIANS DELIGHTED (Received November 21, 8 p.m.) LONDON, November 20. Stockholm newspapers give pride of place to the British offensive, which is attracting very great, interest throughout Sweden. , , . . , Orchestras in night clubs in Ankara struck up “There’ll Always Be An England” when news of the Libyan offensive was received. Political circles are delighted, but are restraining their optimism, realising that'the British are- fighting not only the Italians but the Germans.