BRITISH TANK AID

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 27 November 1941, Page 5

BRITISH TANK AID

GERMAN DIVERSION RAID ON BIG SCALE (Elcc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. noon. RUGBY, Nov. 26. A Cairo communique states: — “Throughout yesterday British and South African troops in the general area of Sidi Rezegh held their ground, while New Zealand reinforcements, with important British tank formations, were steadily making progress westwards in the face of considerable opposition. “In the meantime British forces from Tobruk supported by tanks had steadily penetrated eastwards from the original positions captured in the first two days of the sally. This force has now added to the number of prisoners taken and has also captured 24 field guns. “In the Sidi Rezegh area, which remains the main battle front, the German High Command also brought up reinforcements, and another heavy clash is expected to develop to-day. “Meanwhile, in the effort to divert attention and forces from the main operation, the enemy staged a raid on a substantial scale along a general axis across the frontier south of Sidi Omar. This raiding column was last located in the area midway between Halfaya and Sidi Omar. From Gabr Salh onwards it was continuously attacked both by our bombers and by lowflying fighters. , ■ Raiding Force Engaged “When about to cross the frontier this enemy raiding column was engaged by our field guns and by our tanks, losing about one-third of its estimated strength in tanks.

“British mobile columns with tanks have now been organised to deal with this diversion. “Considerable British tank reinforcements previously held in reserve have now reached the forward areas where our armoured formations are rapidly reorganising, after five days of continuous fighting, to resume their part in the main operation about Sidi Rezegh.

“Further British and South African mechanised forces in co-opera-tion with Indian troops, captured Jalo, taking 200 Italian prisoners, together with quantities of stores and equipment. Operations in this region continue to develop satisfactorily. "Our air force continues to co-oper-ate with bombing attacks on enemy motor transports and armoured fighting vehicle concentrations in the battle area. One particularly successful attack on an enemy column resulted in a number of enemy vehicles being hit and damaged.” Air Force Co-operation

A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: “Our bombers and fighters were again active over the whole battle front of Libya on Tuesday and gave constant support to the operations of the land forces. In the area of the land battle successful bombing attacks were made on enemy tanks and motor transport in the Shefezen and Sidi Omar districts. Fires were started in the middle of two concentrations of enemy mechanised forces. '

“Aerial combats developed over Sidi Rezegh and Sidi Omar in the course of which a CR 42 and a Messerschmitt 110 were shot down. Five further Me 110 s were destroyed in an air battle which took place near Sidi Omar on Monday. “Elsewhere in Libya a low-flying attack was carried out on the aerodrome at Ageoabia, where a transport aircraft was seen to crash. A number of CR 42s and CA 310 s were damaged and a large petrol tanker destroyed.

“Another attack was made on a road south of Barce, where a petrol .anker burst into flames and a number of lorries and other fuel carriers were damaged.

“During Monday night the harbour of Benghazi was again bombed. Fires broke out on the central mole. Raids were also made on aerodromes at Benina and Berka. Two unidentified aircraft were destroyed on the ground. “Arv ME 109 F was shot down in the central Mediterranean by one of our bombers on Sunday.

“In Abyssinia bombing and machine-gunning raids were made in the Gondar-Azozo area, direct hits being obtained on a camp and on the castle at Gondar. Three of our planes are missing.”