RECAPTURE OF SOLLUM

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 116, 19 May 1941, Page 7

RECAPTURE OF SOLLUM

A LOCAL ACTION

SYSTEMATIC R.A.F. STRAFING

LONDON, May 17.

The British operation resulting in the recapture of Sollum was only of. a local nature, its chief importance bejing the serious German losses, says the Cairo correspondent of the British United Press. The Royal Air Force put out of action more than 200 enemy vehicles in 24 hours. Fighter planes systematically strafed' enemy trooßS, tanks, and armoured units throughout !the battle.

j. Earlier, a peculiar sortie by the Germans left their flanks uncovered and provided the opportunity for the British. assault. The enemy garrison is believed to have, consisted solely of Ger» mans when the British entered.

The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states that a spokesman claimed that German. and Italian units recaptured Sollura | yesterday. Further activity in Libya is record* ed in another official communique issued by British headquarters in Cairo, which states: "Throughout yesterday advanced elements of the British mechanised troops continued their pressure against the German forces holding positions in the Fort Capuzzo area. We captured more than 500 German prisoners, and a considerable number of their armoured fighting vehicles have been disabled.

"In the Tobruk area British and Australian troops carried out a limited counter-attack, in which heavy' casualties were inflicted upon the enemy, who left as prisoners in our hands two officers and 60 Germans and Italians of other ranks. In addition, one medium tank, a howitzer, and three Breda guns were destroyed."— U.P.A.