6000 TROOPS PERISH

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23495, 25 November 1941, Page 7

6000 TROOPS PERISH

SINKING OF TWO AXIS CONVOYS (Received November 24, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, November 24, According to a high neutral diplomat in Ankara, 6000 Axis troops perished in the two Italian convoys sunk in the Mediterranean on November 9. Large quantities of ammunition also went down. CLAIMS BY AXIS “BATTLE IS GOING IN OUR FAVOUR” (Received November 24, 7 p.m.) LONDON, November 23. A German communique states: “German and Italian troops in North Africa successfully fought British forces advancing from the south and destroyed more than 260 tanks and 200 armoured cars. “The surrounding Italian forces repelled. strong attacks by the British garrison at Tobruk, supported by tanks.” An Italian communique states: “Fighting continued all day yesterday along the front from Egypt to Tobruk. Our divisions repulsed all enemy attacks and inflicted new and serious losses.” The Official German News Agency claims that the Germans destroyed considerably more than 300 British tanks and 200 armoured cars advancing from the south. British tank formations simultaneously attempting to break out of Tobruk were repulsed with heavy losses. The Berlin radio was subdued last night. “It will be necessary to await developments in the next few days for a tdear picture pf events,” it stated. “It is obvious from reports so far received that the British thrust is meeting with a harder resistance than the British expected.” The Rome radio stated: Fierce fighting occurred on Saturday in the Tobruk area. The British shelled our positions and tried to push through. The day ended, however, without the enemy having gained ground. They lost many tanks and aeroplanes." It also declared that violent fighting was continuing and it was going in favour of the Axis. A British general had been taken prisoner. -