BRITISH ADVANCE IN DESERT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20620, 22 November 1941, Page 5

BRITISH ADVANCE IN DESERT

OPENING OF BIG TANK BATTLE SPEARHEAD NEARS TOBRUK’S DEFENCES RINGING OF GERMAN-ITALLAN POSTS (Elec. Td. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 22, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 21.The great battle for Libya has begun. _ It is reported that 163 Axis tanks have been put out of action. Foreign military experts in Ankara yesterday predicted .that a tremendous tank battle would occur, probably in the next two days, as the advancing British forces come into contact with two German armoured divisions between Solium and Tobruk. This Nazi force is described as the crust of the Axis opposition in North Africa. A delayed communique issued by General Headquarters in Cairo late last night stated: “By yesterday evening advance elements of our forces captured Rezegh on the escarpment 10 miles south-east of the perimeter of Tobruk. A detachment of our armoured forces moving on this road successfully engaged Italian armoured troops in the region of Birclgobi, destroying a number of tanks and taking 150 prisoners. Meanwhile, 30 miles west of Capuzzo, our tank units sighted German tanks in some strength, but these withdrew before they could be brought to battle. “While these operations were proceeding pressure on the enemy holding defended localities between Halfaya Pass and Sidi Omar was maintained. The operations continue to develop satisfactorily. Heavy Attacks by Air Force . “In close co-operation with the land forces our air force was in action throughout the day, heavily attacking tanks and mechanical transport on the road south from Jedabya, while enemy aerodromes were successfully attacked. Royal Air Force bombers on the night of November 18 attacked the power station and harbour installations at Tripoli and also Naples and Brindisi, hitting docks and marshalling yards at Naples and setting fire to the dock area in Brindisi. Three British machines are missing from all these operations.” : The Daily Express correspondent with the Bth Army says that in a huge series of concentric lines the British forces are closing in on enemy positions like Solium, Sidi Omar and the lines around Tobruk. The two vital armoured units of the German commander, General Rommels, are between Bardia and Tobruk and there is evidence that he may be drawing off his forces from the frontier in the direction of Tobruk. Wherever he goes the British are pursuing him to force the battle. The correspondent added: “We do not expect an immediate collapse of heavily-fortified places like Halfaya. We are already behind them, but for days the battle will be extremely fluid. ’ ’

The Daily Mail correspondent to-day said: “General Cunningham’s forces are still advancing without serious opposition. The German Panzer forces in the triangle of Sidi Omar, Gam but and Solium are withdrawing as fast as possible. The extent of the withdrawal is unknown, but it must be on a large scale, presumably to the district south of 'Tobruk. News that an Italian division south of Tobruk has already begun to retire seems to indicate that the seige of Tobruk has been raised to a great extent.”