FIGHTING AROUND TOBRUK

Evening Star, Issue 24054, 28 November 1941, Page 5

FIGHTING AROUND TOBRUK

NEW ZEALANDERS SPEARHEAD OF ATTACK BIG TANK BATTLE IN PROGRESS FINE AIR SUPPORT (From the Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, November 20. With the New Zealanders as the spearhead of the attack a battle near Tobruk is .now being fiercely fought. South Africans are fighting side by side with New Zealanders. Launched with vigour and speed this morning, the at tack is one of many phases. At midday to-day Imperial troops had the Germans on the run in the area south-east of Tobruk, only a few miles from the outer perimeter of the Tobruk defences. The New Zealanders and ' South Africans are driving onward from an area about 20 miles south-east of the town. Further east a big tank battle is in progress. Down on the border south-west of Solium the Indians have captured Libyan Omar, on the border of the wire fortifications. A very large number of prisoners wore captured in and around Libyan Omar. : Capuzzo is held by the lew Zealanders, A battle near Tobruk now rages. Troops are coming down out of the Tobruk defences to harass the Germans from the north, and New Zealanders and South Africans are driving northwards and north-easterwards.

Much will depend on the battle of tanks, which is being fought about 20 miles due west of Bardia,'with fine air support from great flights of R.A.F. bombers, and desperately determined fighting on the part of our troops. The New Zealanders are confident they will make history. There is great optimism amongst the New Zealand Division.

NO CONFIRMATION ITALIAN CLAIM TO HAVE TAKEN SiDl OMAR (Ree. 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 27. There is no confirmation in London of the Italian claim to have taken Sidi Umar. ENEMY PLANES LARGE NUMBER DESTROYED BY R.A.F. (Eac. 10 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 27. , rf According to the British United Press special correspondent with the R.A. F. in the Western Desert it was officially confirmed on November 26 that 133 enemy planes had been destroyed since the ' beginning of the offensive. A News Agency correspondent in a delayed despatch from Libya on November 22, referring to prisoners, says that in one column he counted 950 Germans and 33 Italians marching sullenly to camp. Another despatch dated Nov. 24 reports an unofficial estimate of the destruction of 50 Axis tanks in a fight which began after lunch and ended before sundown. Another onrush of mixed German and Italian tanks was thrown back with the loss of 40 tanks.

NO FRONT LINE

BATTLEFIELDS STREWN WITH WRECKAGE HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES LONDON, November 27. The capture of Jalo and Augila means that the British forces have acquired two oases, which will form valuable bases for operations in the south. Both arc situated about 140 miles south of Benghazi. The ‘ Daily Express ’ correspondent with the Eighth Army, in a message on November 25, states: “It has been a tremendous 24 hours, in which the Bri';,sh and German armoured units fought each other to the death for many miles ai’ouud the south-east approaches to Tobruk. The desert is littered with broken and burning vehicles, overturned trucks, smashed guns, and up-ended and smouldering aircraft, while all over the battlefield wounded and lost men are sorting themselves out and trying to find their units. “ There is no front line. British and German tanks met and wiped each other out. That’s all. Both sides have taken thousands of prisoners and suffered thousands of casualties.

“ It remains now for the remnants of the opposing armoured units to reform and wait for reinforcements to reopen this bloodiest and swiftest battle the desert has ever seen. I hare been travelling over the battlefield, but it is ' impossible to give news of the fate of different units ■ Scattered parties are everywhere, while British air fleets roar endlessly past, bombing and fighting off j enemy aircraft. There is terrific activity ! behind our lines. British officers who talked with German prisoners said they all seemed tired of fighting. One German pilot, who crash-landed unbanned, exclaimed to his captors: “ Thank God, j I’ve had enough.’ ’’ j ■ ITALIAN DEMONSTRATIONS ] DRASTIC NAZI RETRIBUTION (llec. 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 27. Sensational reports from Zurich that German troops had turned machineguns on Italian crowds demonstrating at Palazzo Venezia for the recall of Italian troops from Libya are printed in the ‘ New York Post.’ Nazi soldiers, it is stated, broke up a number of meetings and riots occurred. AXIS SEA ROUTES NAVAL AND AIR ATTACKS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Nov. 2G. The extent to which the relentless naval and air attacks during past months ou the Axis sea routes between Italy and Libya are now bearing fruit was discussed "in naval quarters in London to-day. The enemy is prevented from bringing across all bis reinforcements and supplies while the crucial battle is in progress. In the week since the British attack started we have, in addition to sinking seven ships, set fire to a schooner, and probably sunk a cruiser and a destroyer. On the other hand, the much longer Imperial routes remain open. Nearly every man of the Imperial forces taking part has travelled to the Middle East by sea. Though some aircraft have been flown to the theatre of war. all their ground staffs and equipment have gone bv sea. In addition, the Navy has assured supplies for the Tobruk garrison for many months under constant heavy bombing from Axis bases in Crete, and has also relieved the troops of the garrison and brought tanks into the fortress. The tions by a bombardment of the coast. Navv is now assisting the land opera-

EFFECTIVE RAIDING H.A.F. HAS BUSY TIME HELP FROM FREE FRENCH BCMEER3 (limisii Official Wireless,) (Roe. 10..j') a.in.; RUGBY, .Nov. 27. An H.A.F. Middle Fast coinmunirpio states; “Further effective raids on concentrations of enemy tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, and motor transports in the battle area in Libya wore carried out by our bomber aircraft yesterday. In'the neighbourhood of FI Adem and Sidi Omar bombs burst among tanks and troops and during the attacks on one of the enemy columns a number of ammunition lorries were blown up. “ Other bombing raids, in which Free French bombers took part, were made along the Trigli-Capnzzo road and in the Duda district. Many fire.s broke out when direct hits were scored on a group of tanks, vehicles, and troops, and among scattered columns of motor transports. “ Air support was given to the land operations. Over the battle area our fighters encountered a force of Mcsserschmitt 100 lighters and shot down two of them Other enemy aircraft wore damaged. “ Details are now available of the aerial combats which took place over Sidi Rezegh on November 20. Four Messerschmitt 110’s. one 109, one GR42 and two (ISO’s and two fighters were definitely destroyed, while many other enemy aircraft were- badly damaged. In this engagement we lost twq fighters. “ Motor transports on the coastal road of the Gulf of Sirto were attacked by our bombers yesterday. Petrol tankers and lorries wore either destroyed or put out of action. Enemy aircraft which attempted to intercept our bombers were driven off. During the night of November 25-2 G bombers attacked shipping in Benghazi Harbour. A direct hit was obtained on the outer mole. “In addition to the two fighters mentioned above five of our aircraft are missing.”

ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT EFFORT TO OUTFLANK GERMANS ! LONDON, November 27. Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army says General Rommel is using the suspension of the main battle while our armoured forces reform to gather reinforcements to strengthen the German and Italian positions around Tobruk, where fierce fighting is developing. Both air commands are throwing strong forces into the battle, and the Germans are using heavy Messerschmitt reinforcements from Crete and Southern Italv. Twenty of our fighters attacked aud drove off’7o Messerschmitts on the night of. November 25, shooting down

It is reported: that the New Zealanders have outflanked Solium’s defences, reaching the escarpment, from I which they can pound the enemy positions COOft below. Our forces are also pressing still further northwards around • the Bardia zone. ) The most notable feature of the fighting, he adds, is the unprecedented R. activity. An officer who served in Libya last year and in France, Greece," and Crete, said: “This is the first time when aircraft are heard that one can say to oneself there is no need to look—they are sure to be ours.” | It is understood in Cairo that the second great British tank offensive has begun, says the ‘ Daily Express ’ correspondent. The British are reported to be making a new wide encircling movement westward around General Rnnimol’s remaining groups in the Sidi Rezegh area in order to outflank and cut off the enemy from his bases at Gazala and Dernn. The military correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ describes the German movements across the frontier as extremely bold, and the enemy may consider that the column has exeI cuted its task if it causes some conI fusion in pur communications, even if it is destroyed in the process. | Large quantities of Axis petrol went I up in smoke from blazing tankers or I gushed from bullet-riddled containers in 1 the Cyrenaican desert after a low-flying (-raid by the R.A.F. on Monday. The ’ Air Ministry news service describes how I bombers searched great stretches of the 1 roads leading east* and west for enemy transports carrying fuel and stores along 1.000 miles of communications. Tremendous' havoc was wrought by bombers,, which attacked a long convoy of lorries, many of which were severely damaged, by bombs and machine-gun fire. Two tankers blew up in tremendous sheets of flame. On Monday night a strong formation of bombers carried out another destructive raid on Benghazi. CLOSING ON GONDAR ITALIANS REFUSE DUTY (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, November 27. A Nairobi communique states that the Celga-Ozozo road, west of Gondar, lias been cut by the Patriots. Deserters report that after Tadda Ridge, seven miles south-east of Gondar, had been captured by our forces, Colonel Tern, commanding - the Italian Reserve Brigade, gave orders for a counter-attack, but the troops refused to obey. The hangar of Azozo aerodrome was seen burning furiously, and direct hits were scored on buildings and trendies | south-west of Azozo by the South Afri--1 can Air Force on Wednesday Buildings, huts, tents, and trenches near Gondar were successfully attacked and machine-gun posts silenced The S. also bombed and machine gunned enemy posts at Maldiba, three miles south-west from Gondar.

SERB GUERRILLAS GERMAN EFFORTS AT REPRESSION (Eec. 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 27. The British United Press Association s Berlin correspondent reports that strongly-reinforced German troops, with units under General Xeditch. arc carrying out a large-scale offensive against organised Serb guerrillas.

NEW ZEALAND ADVANCE

GERMAN INFANTRY TROUNCED RELENTLESS WGRK OF R.A.F. (N.Z.F.F. Official War Uorrespmulcut.) ( A I RO, November 26. Guinpnralively small activity by tbo enemy air force, which has been subdued as a result of the relentless work of the R.A.F., has given the New Zealanders for the first time an opportunity to light an action on equal terms with the Germans. All things are equal. It is their infantry against ones, and so far the Germans are running a very bad second. They were caught ‘‘ on the hop ” and have been kept “on tile hop " ever since. All day to-day, November 22, New Zealand infantry units have hammered the German lines Our troops, which are now near the inner perimeter ol Bardia, successfully repulsed two German counter-attacks tinring the day. ami are in as strong a position as ever. They fought on the,, wide open desert, which atlords practically no cover from either lire or view. This extraordinary action has so far failed to cause more than half a dozen casualties to the New Zealanders QUICK CHANGES. With swiftly changing events the British attack takes on a different aspect, hourly. Place names mean little in this astonishing campaign. Cnpuzzq, which was taken only this morning, is to-night forgotten. Whereas Greece and Crete were for the New Zealanders a tragedy and a debacle, the hoot is now on the Gorman foot. This time with great waves of Royal Air Force lighters and bombers racing across the skies the morale of the New Zealanders has reached now heights, and they are lighting with that speed and determination so necessary to carry them on to victory. All units are carrying out bold tactical moves, and they have succeeded to date been use of their very audacity, combined with skill. German prisoners I saw to-day admitted that both they and the Italians had boon taken by surprise. Their stories merely confirmed what took place at Capuz/.o early this morning, when a South Island infantry battalion was able to eat a hot breakfast left by fleeing Germans and Italians, PRISONERS DEJECTED. The prisoners taken to date, both German and Italian, are of a poor typo. Many of the Gormans are extremely young, several admitting tht they wore only 19 years old. Their uniforms were old and shabby, and they and the Italians wore a dejected lot. Masses of German equipment have also been captured. All day long equipment lias been coming back, and late this afternoon a German battalion commander’s car arrived. Lashed to the radiator was a gold-painted horseshoe, and on one side was a swastika shaded by a palm. Up till noon to-day the total number of prisoners captured by Now Zealanders was 400.

When darkness foil to-nieht the New Zealand infantry continued the battle with the vigour and determination that had characterised their efforts all day Flashes of shellfire lit up the skies and told of New Zealand artillery pounding the German lines.

LIGHTNING THRUSTS HW ZEALANDERS' IMPORTANT ROLE CAIRO, November 26. Confined for tlie first few days almost entirely to a battle of aircraft and tanks, the Libyan campaign has now settled down to one of lightning infantry thrusts on the part of the Imperial troops. A tank battle is still in progress. The New Zealanders are playing a role of the highest importance, and when the whole story is unfolded it will ho realised how much the audacity and grim determination of the New Zealanders contributed to the victory which everyone, from the generals down to the ranks, so confidently await. For the first time in over two years of war British and Imperial troops have met the Germans on equal terms. Parity in the air has been the key to the success of tho campaign to date. Once again it has been proved that tho British pilot is infinitely superior to his German counterpart. In the first three days 74 German planes have been shot down 'or captured, witli surprisingly light losses to tho R.A.F. Although no New Zealand squadron is fighting in Libya, there are several New Zealand pilots scattered among the units of tho R.A F. in action. 1 Until the time the Libyan campaign started five days ago the Germans had been able to dive-bomb British and Imperial troops without serious opposition. It is a very different story this lime. Now it is the story of the blitzer blitzed.” This fact has had a tremendous effect on the trend of events. Planes of the R.A.F. have been bombing and machine-gunning enemy transports. They have swooped down on tho German landing fields and bombed tanks and troops with systematic and relentless effort. All this has

A HUGH

FRANGO-SEIM RELATIONS PETAIN AGAINST JOINING AXIS NFW YORK. Nov. 20. 'flic Associated Press says that reliable reports received in New York suggest that a hitch Inis developed in the French and German negotiations. .Marshal Pctain is opposing outright membership of the Axis.

MAN AMD WDMAN POWER THE, GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSAL DEBATE PENDING IN COMMONS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 27. A wide extension of the scope of the national service legislation in Britain is foreshadowed by a report that a debate on the subject of woman power and man power, which will take place in the House of Commons, will arise on the following Government motion, which stands in the names of Mr Churchill, Mr Attlee, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Mr Ernest Brown, and Mr Bevin, “ that it is the' opinion of this House, for the purpose of securing the maximum national effort in the conduct of the war and in production, the obligation for national service should be extended to include the resources of womacn power and man power still available, and that the necessary Igislation should be brought in forthwith.”

PARIS FINED BOMB EXPLODES IN CAFE VICHY, November 26. After a bond) explosion in a restaurant tho Germans fined Paris 1,p00,000 francs. It is believed that the fine was imposed in order to avoid the shooting of hostages, which has created a tense situation in the occupied zone.

put new heart into New Zealanders. They smile with satisfaction, and, metaphorieallv speaking, rub their hands as large flights of bombers, supported by fighters, pass overhead. _ After tho ghastly experience of tho Now Zealand troops in Greece and Crete, they are secure in the knowledge of air support and are throwing themselves into the fray on this occasion unimpeded by dive-bombing. So far no big bombing attack has been carried out on the New_ Zealanders by either Gormans or Italians. _ Tho position is reversed. Tho R.A.F. is now doing the bombing.