GREAT MOBILITY

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

GREAT MOBILITY

CLASHES OF FORCES LIKE A SEA BATTLE (British Official Wireless.) Reed, 9 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 26. Describing the fighting in Cyrenaica, an agency correspondent says the battle went on unceasingly, swaying backwards and forwards with great mobility and at times resembling a sea rather than a land action as heavy and light tanks rolled across the sandy wastes in battle formation. British artillery was also harassing the enemy, and infantry of either side were disputing every inch of ground. The casualties on either side are heavy, but the German losses are said to be the heavier The battleground is piled with destroyed and burnt-out tanks and motorised vehicles. The Royal Air Force planes were again acting in perfect co-operation with the army and kept hammering at the enemy tanks. All the British planes returned safely to advanced headquarters. At one place half a dozen British troops were suddenly confronted with 300 Italians advancing towards them. The British section opened fire with a machine-gun and hand grenades and, after a short, sharp fight the Italians beat a retreat.

Elsewhere a South African, with an anti-tank gun and grenades, chased a German tank and managed to jump on to it. Threatening the crew with grenades, he ordered them to drive towards British Headquarters.