FRONTIER FIGHT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 199, 20 May 1941, Page 7

FRONTIER FIGHT

Germans Rally At Solium . HEIGHT RETAKEN i Still In Vulnerable Positions

11, Telegraph. I'reS' Ai.su.--Copyright.! ( Received May 19. 9.15 p.m.)

LONDON. May 19. British headquarters in the \\ esi,rn Desert announced : " I he Germans, reassembling their forces which were scattered by the Biitish n the previous Lew days, have teamed some positions, including the wights above Solium. The Gernan forces are much more heavily lined than the British, but our iTensive in the past few days has orced them into positions where bey arc vulnerable, especially to kink attacks.”

A Cairo general headquarters cum (unique yesterday stated: “Extending he area of rite successful counteriltaek delivered yesterday, Australian troops recaptured a number of strong points in the outer defences of Tobruk aud took 25 German prisoners. The enemy again suffered serious losses, including two medium tanks. "Our mechanized patrols are continuing their aggressive tactics in the Sollum-Capuzzo-Halfaya area.” A clash in which 500 Germans were taken prisoner around Solium is . described by Richard McMillan, British United Press correspondent, in a dispatch from Hellfire (Haifaya) Pass, yesterday. The Britisli. led by crack regiment’s, broke through the German lilies on the Egyptian frontier, says Mr. McMillan, entered Libya, and gave the Nazis something they are. more accustomed to give titan to receive Changed Hands Twice. A two-pronged drive along the Solium escarpment brought our tanks aud infantry to Fort Cap.izzo. which changed hands twice in a day-long battle and is now an unrecognizable heap of rubble. The British mechanized infantry units fought their way to the top of Hellfire Pass and caught the enemy machine-gun posts in a withering lire after making an encircling movement. The Germans fled to a dried-up riverlied where Gley were cornered.

Tanks and other units, including a famous regiment, pushed rapidly along the coast road to the outskirts of Solium simultaneously, pincering the Germans, who were neatly cornered in tlie deep crevices of the escarpment adjoining Hellfire Pass. This body of 250 Germans hastily dug holes in the barren side of the escarpment, but they were bombed and bombarded front sky and land. Our soldiers from the top of the pass poured a hail of machine-gun bullets into every nook and cranny. Tn the attack on Fort Capuzzo strong groups of tanks ploughed their way over the sand. The infantry followed in lorries till the enemy was contacted. then, with bayonets fixed, the advance began behind armoured units. The enemy put up a stiff fight, but we entered the ruins of the fort before retiring to prepared positions. Meantime, our bombers attacked barracks at Solium, where the Germans were established in force, then artillery was brought up and gave the beleaguered Germans a pasting. SOLLUM FORTRESS British Still In Control LONDON. May 19. It is learned that British forces are still in control of Solium. This news has been received since a German report claiming to have retaken the town. Some famous British regiments still hold coastal areas near Solium. PARIS PAPERS CALL TO U.S.A. Mediation For Peace i Received May 19, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. The Vichy correspondent of the British United Press says that a section of the German-controlled Paris Press has opened a concerted campaign urging President Roosevelt to mediate in order to end the war by a negotiated peace. The newspapers assert that the alternative is that the United States will be drawn into a long war. Lyons radio today announced that a. large bomb exploded in Marseilles last night, causing considerable but unspecified damage to buildings. Berlin radio declared that a time-bomb exploded in the Marseilles Synagogue. M. de Brlnon, Vichy’s representative in Paris, announced that 42 persons were arrested at a demonstration in favour of General de Gaulle, held at the Tnilleries Gardens on the Joan of Arc anniversary. He added that the de Gaulle .party’s advance publicity enabled precautions to be taken and disorder was reduced to « minimum. I NAZI MOVE DENIED ! Possession Of Dakar LONDON. May 18. ' The official news ageney at Vichy de- i Died New York reports that tt German occupation of Dakar was envisaged during Hie talks between Admiral Dor- . lan anil Herr Hitter. j GOOD BEGINNING ' London War Weapons Week ; (Britisli iilliciul Wireli-.-s.' (Received May 19, 7 p.m. i RUGBY, May 18. i The first reports of 1.-ondon's war | weapons week, which opened yester- i day. are extremely encouraging. Lord | Mottistone. chairman of the National | Savings Committee, said, "The results I are far more favourable than we had j dared to hope.” West minster, it is j stated. Ims promised well over | t 1.000.000 : Hampstead’s figure reached , £300,000 during yesterday morning, while Stepney. which was aiming at £25,000 for the week, lias already been | guaranteed that sum. RUSSIA AND IRAQ MOSCOW. May .18. Russia and Iraq have signed an agreement for diplomatic, trade anti consular arrangements. : SERVICE VESSELS LOST I. <_>Nl>ON. Ma.i Is I'lic Adniiriili,' Ims announced that I the mine-sweeper 11.M.5. Susariuu and I ir/of iThnHv hura boon sunk *’

I'lie Admiral!,' Ims announced that the mine-sweeper 11.M.5. Susariuu and the drifter liberty have bean sunk