COUNTER CHECKED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 25 November 1941, Page 5

COUNTER CHECKED

NAZI TANKS HELD RETREAT CUT OFF NEW BRITISH POSITIONS (Reed. Nov. 25, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 24. Advance forces from Tobruk are to-day within two miles of our armoured division proceeding northward. A high British officer told the Exchange Telegraph correspondent at Desert Headquarters that German tanks which assembled near El Adem on Saturday night led a fierce and powerful attack on Sunday in an attempt to recapture Sidi Rezegh. A British armoured brigade and support group, including a famous line regiment, h e ld their ground in a battle lasting an hour. British armoured forces with South Africans in support are gaining new positions to cut off the Genpan retreat eastward. Artillery is already in position to cover the remaining gap. A mass of dogfights between Tomahawks and Messerschmjtts on Sunday resulted in the destruction of nine Messerschmitts. • Five Tomahawks out of 21 have not returned, to the base, but may have landed for refuelling on desert landing grounds. Resources From Rear

The Axis is bringing up by planes and roads anti-tank guns, machineguns and ammunition from the rear bases, says the British United Press correspondent at Desert Headquarters. Pilots already report an increase in anti-aircraft fire. An Indian division captured 8000 Italians of the 15,000 reported with considerable equipment in the Sidi Omar area, but the Indians are encountering fierce resistance four and a half miles west of Sidi Omar. Stiff resistance is expected west of Tobruk where the Italians have built heavy fortifications and laid vast minefields. Drain on Reich Manpower An examination of German prisoners indicates the drain on Germany’s manpower, says the correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain at Desert Headquarters. One group of prisoners comprised old reservists due for final mobilisation last year. Another group, which recently arrived in Libya, included several men just released from hospital. Some were still wearing bandages on unhealed wounds. According to a high neutral diplomat at Ankara 6000 Axis troops perished in the two Italian convoys sunk in the Mediterranean on November 9. Large quantities of ammunition also went down. A South African force is reported to be driving towards an Italian armoured division which reformed 30 miles west of Ed Adem, prei sumably in the effort to screen the Axis withdrawal to Derna.