CHARGED HEAD-ON

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 28 November 1941, Page 6

CHARGED HEAD-ON

OPPOSING TANK FORCES

BATTLE FOR AERODROME

“LIKE OLD-TIME CAVALRY”

CAIRO, Nov. 26.

Some of the most savage tank fighting occurred for possession of the aerodrome of El Adem, says the Sydney Morning Herald’s war correspondent. An officer who took part told .me that the aerodrome was a horrible sight, pock-marked with shell holes and littered with shattered bodies and the smoking ruins of tann». “It was a ding-dong battle, rather like old-time cavalry fighting,” he said. “fifty or 60 German tanks lined up on one side of the aerodrome charged at full speed across it, and 50 or 60 of our tanks charged out to meet them. They met in the centre of the aerodrome and pounded away at each other in clouds of dust and smoke.

“Then they drew apart, leaving flaming wrecks of tanks behind. This was repeated again and again, neither side gaining any definite advantage, although the Germans lost much more heavily than we did. “By nightfall the whole aerodrome was cluttered up with wrecked tanks and mutilated bodies. It was the most savage fighting I have ever seen, both sides refusing to yield ground and fighting - with furious determination. “Some of the opposing tanks simply charged one another head on, locking together while the crews fought it out with machine-guns and hand grenades.”