GUNFIRE HELD

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

GUNFIRE HELD

NEED OF ARTILLERY CONFUSED TARGETS TANK CREW’S ORDEAL Reed. Nov. 26, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 25. A correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency at advanced headquarters of the Bth Army in a report of yesterday stated: “In the region southwards of Sidi Rezegh the engagements are so complicated and numerous that at times the artillery has to cease shelling to avoid firing on its own craft entangled with the enemy m a small area. « “The battle settled down in the immediate surroundings of Sidi Rezegh where the Germans concentrated what remains of their two Panzer divisions. All reports indicate the fierceness of the battle with savage and bitter engagements in the course of which the South Africans probably had the greatest fight in their history. It is unanimously agreed that they fought magnificently. “Fifty, if not more, German tanks were destroyed on Sunday, but the situation is still most confused. Our aviation losses cannot be compared with those of the enemy and all our losses are quickly replaced.” Crack English Regiment The correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain with the Bth Army says that most of the credit for the advance in Libya so far should go to a column consisting of crack English regiments which decisively hurled back the Panzer force. The Englishmen used the American M-111 tanks against much heavier German tanks. A British lieutenant whose tank was hit and set on fire in the Libyan battle scrambled out with the crew unhurt. The crew lay down in some bushes shamming death. “The Germans passed within 10 yards but did not trouble to look at us,” said the officer. My crew were marvellous. They scarcely breathed. They lay there for seven hours until the Germans withdrew.” Another tank officer said the Germans seemed confused by the battle’s convolutions and did not seem to know where they were. “One German motor cyclist with a companion in a sidecar drove straight to our lines,” said this officer. “After saluting he asked in German where the commanding officer was. We quickly collared them both.”