BRITISH GAINS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 24 November 1941, Page 5

BRITISH GAINS

INTENSE FIGHTING HEAVY OPENING BLOWS SALLY FROM TOBRUK (British Official Wireleaa.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 22. The defenders of Tobruk are successfully fighting their way to join up with the. Empire forces outside. This was announced in to-night’s war communique from Cairo, which confirms the optimistic views concerning the development of operations made in London to-day. The communique states: “Centred in the triangle between Fort Capuzzo, Gadr Saleh and Sidi Rezegh, a heavy tank battle developed over the whole area throughout yesterday. Taking full advantage of the tactical opportunity presented, General Cunningham interposed his main armoured forces between the principal tank concentrations to the east and the lesser one to the west.

“Repeated attempts by the main, German tank forces to break through to the west were defeated. It has not yet been possible to assess the tank casualties on either side, but it is known that the enemy lolsses have again been greater than ours. Meanwhile British troops from Tobruk, sup- . ported by important tank forces which had gradually been introduced into the fortress over a period of many weeks by the Royal Navy, sallied out yesterday morning with the object of joining forces with our troops holding Sidi Rezegh. By midday yesterday a heavily-defended enemy locality, three miles south-east of the perimeter defences, together with a smaller position nearby had been captured and by nightfall the Tobruk force was steadily making progress in the face of heavy opposition. “In the frontier area our movement to encircle the Axis forces holding a defended position between Halfaya and Sidi Omar developed satisfactorily throughout the day. Our air forces maintained their superiority over the enemy and our bombers gave support to the land battle by successful attacks on concentrations of enemy tanks and mechanical support. “To sum up, yesterday saw a continuation of heavy fighting which was to be expected after the German High Command in Africa had recovered from the shock of the original surprise. In all areas the situation is developing to our advantage, though further intensive fighting is to be expected before it will be possible to assess the full results of the heavy blow which has been dealt to the enemy in the opening phase of this campaign,"