GROUND GIVEN AND GAINED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 26 November 1941, Page 5

GROUND GIVEN AND GAINED

EMPIRE UNITS PLAY VALIANT PART NEW ZEALANDERS CONTINUE ADVANCE . (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reccl. Nov. 26 1.1.45 a.m.) LONDON, Nov.- 25. Informed London circles state that the Battle of Libya is still raging and the second phase of the battle has not yet been reached. The position is still very confused. A despatch from an agency correspondent at advanced headquarters of the Bth Army states that yesterday fighting on land and in the air went on all day long in the region south of Sidi Rezegh. An attempt by a German squadron to make a sweeping movement was checked after a hard encounter by a British brigade and field artillery holding the right wing. In the course of numerous engagements South African and New Zealand infantry were supported by their oavii tank units and valiantly did their part. Late at night the battle continued unabated and without result. A Cairo communique of to-day states: “Intensive fighting between German and British armoured forces continued in the area about Sidi Rezegh. Reinforcements which reached the area were yesterday also involved in the fighting. “The South Africans, who were the first .to be deployed, sustained a heavy attack by German lorry-borne infantry supported by tanks. The South Africans, who were heavily outnumbered in the particular sector for which they were responsible, fought with magnificent courage until British armoured forces put in a counter-attack which eventually drove off the German tanks with heavy losses. New Zealanders’ Advance “Meanwhile the New Zealand forces, supported by British tanks, are continuing their advance towards Tobruk along ,the general line of Trigh-C'apuzzo. “Throughout its course this battle has been very heavy. On both sides ground has been given and regained only after bitter fighting in which the main object has been the destruction of the opposing armoured units. The' tank casualties have been heavy on both sides, but owing to the nature of the fighting it is as yet impossible to estimate what actual losses have been inflicted or sustained. “The British forces which'sallied from Tobruk have consolidated the positions gained and captured over 2000 prisoners of whom about half are Germans. “In the frontier area over 1000 prisoners have already been taken and many more are coming in. “Meanwhile in the southern sector of the battle area our mobile forces from Jarabub have made considerable progress and troops of the sth Indian division captured Augila, near Jalo. Superiority in the Air “During the day our air forces maintained their air superiority, continuously bombing the German forces and concentrations of mechanical transport on which many casualties have also been inflicted by low-flying fighter attacks. The co-operation between the army and our air forces has been of the highest order and the assistance afforded by the Royal Navy has been most successful, too.” The first Avounded, including Germans, reached Cairo on Monday from the Libyan battlefield. Air ambulances are carrying the more severely Avounded. The Italian High Command spokesman broadcasting last night said: “It must be admitted the situation in Libya is grave. All that can be said is that the Italians and Germans are resisting heavy pressure with gallant vigour.”