BITTER FIGHTING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20627, 1 December 1941, Page 5

BITTER FIGHTING

WITHOUT ABATEMENT BRITISH PRESSURE WIDENING CORRIDOR (British Official Wireless.; Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 30 The dour battle of Cyrenaica continues without abatement. A Cairo headquarters communique of yesterday states: “Heavy fighting continued yesterday in the area south-east of Tobruk, where British and New Zealand forces are gradually widening the corridor of contact. To the east British troops yesterday evening captured a strong point north of Bir el Hamed, taking several hundred Italian prisoners. “To the west enemy troops, predominantly German, continued to offer stiff resistance. Up to the evening of Wednesday British troops who jhad arrived, from Tobruk had captured 79 field and medium guns, '.together with quantities of light and anti-tank artillery, machine-guns and small arms. South-west of Sidi Rezegh, German and Italian armoured forces, which had been scattered and forced to withdraw eastward on the previous day by the British armoured forces, reassembled their medium tanks during the night of Thursday. Yesterday these Axis armoured forces once more moved westwards where they again were heavily engaged by our armoured forces. “Yesterday evening bitter fighting was still continuing without either .side having given or gained ground. On a number of occasions yesterday our air force was able to take advantage of the opportunity offered to attack enemy concentrations in co-operation with ground troops. Bombing and low-flying machine-gun attacks were particularly successful against German and Italian armoured forces engaged in the tank battle

south-east of Sidi Rezegh.” An explanation of points in yesterday’s Cairo communique is given by well-informed observers in London. The capture of the strong point mentioned in the communique is part of •,the operation of widening the corridor of contact in the Tobruk area. This operation is clearly satisfactory, v Meanwhile, it is apparent that the tank operations have again assumed considerable dimensions since the German party raiding eastwards has

been joined by elements of an Italian • division which was severely handled at El -Gobi and later at Sidi Rezegh. It is regarded as satisfactory that these combined elements are east of the line south of Tobruk, as they can

be dealt with there witn advantage. It must not be assumed, however, that it is impossible for them to break through. While their supply situation is not enviable, there must be a certain amount of material left in the :area which they can usd, Friday’s fighting in the district sou'th-west of Tobruk, where the British and New Zealand forces are gradually widening and extending the corridor, is described by the military SDokesman in Cairo as being as heavy as there Las been so far. The German tank forces which were scattered on Thursday were reassembled next day.

The remnants of the division were .seen moving westwards, where they were again attacked by our forces. In the evening the battle was still going on.

The German force was picked up by the Royal Air Force in the morning and heavily bombed all day. East of Tobruk our forces captured an important stronghold which was garrisoned mainly by Italians. In the frontier area the Indian division is gradually extending its hold over the defended locality.