GERMAN TANKS ELUSIVE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 50, 22 November 1941, Page 9

GERMAN TANKS ELUSIVE

Push Closes In On Strong Points (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 21.. A section of the Eighth Imperial Army, in the Western Desert offensive which continues to develop favourably, was reported last night to be near the Tobruk defences, while the air force and nay continued their hammering of the enemy’s positions and supply A Cairo communique announced the capture of a point on the escarpment 10 miles south-east of the Tobruk perimeter, while a further 30 miles south and west a detachment of the armoured forces successfully engaged an Italian armoured .force, destroying a number of tanks and taking 150 prisoners. . The “Daily Mail” says: “General Cunninghams forces are still advancing without serious opposition. The German panzer forces in the triangle between Sidi Omar, Gambut (15 miles west of Bardia) and Solium are withdrawing as fast as possible, liie extent of the withdrawal is not known, but it must be on a large scale, presumably to the district south of Tobruk. News that the Italian division south of Tobruk has already begun to retire seems to indicate that the seige of Tobruk is raised to a great extent. The “Daily Express’’ correspondent with the Eighth Army says- “In a huge series of concentric lines the British forces are closing in on enemy positions like Solium, Sidi Omar and the lines round Tobruk. General Rommel’s two vital armoured units are between Bardia and Tobruk, and there is evidence that he may be drawing off forces from the frontier in the direction of Tobruk. Wherever he goes we are pursuing him to force a battle. The correspondent adds: “Don’t expect an immediate collapse of the heavily fortified places like Halfaya. We are already behind them, ibut for days the battle will be extremely fluid. DUAL THREAT TO ENEMY REAR. Earlier reports showed that the Germans and Italians falling back along the coastal roads in Libya under constant hammering from the R.A.F., and harassed by the navy, face a dual threat, namely ,a British turning movement from the region of Sidi Umar driving to Tobruk and cutting off the Axis forces in the coastal area, and a drive from Jarabub in the direction of El Agheila (south of Benghazi) to cut their supplies and prevent their retreat to inpoli. ° British forces crossed the frontier at Shefferzen, 1 0 miles south of Sidi Omar, permitting them to by-pass the strongly fortified frontier positions from the coast to Sidi Omar. From Shefferzen fairly good road runs westward'to El Gubbi which is not likely to be seriously affected by rain. A road runs also from Jarabub to E 1 A? In e the south the British initial advance is faster than that of last year, largely owing to the British supremacy m no man s land. It is stated in authoritative quarters m London that the mai battle has not vet been joined.