FORCING PACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 10 December 1941, Page 7

FORCING PACE

BRITISH FORCES LIBYAN BATTLEFRONT SMASHING AIR RAIDS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 8. Throughout the whole of the battle area our pressure is steadily increasing,”. states- a communique issued by British General Headquarters, Cairo. “West of Bir-el-Gobi an enemy force of about 30 tanks and 500 motor vehicles were heavily shelled and attacked by our armoured forces about midday on Saturday. In this action seven, enemy tanks were destroyed and three enemy tanks and a number of mechanical transports were damaged. The enemy column. withdrew to the west, still harassed by our forces. During the withdrawal, armoured car patrols of the King’s Dragoon Guards picked lip about 40 German stragglers. “South of Tobruk and towards El Adem, the centre of enemy resistance is being vigorously ...attacked, .’The area about Sidi Rezegh and Bir-el-Hamed now appears to be entirely, clear of the enemy. 1 Fighting pa'tr'dls of the Border Regiment have been active throughout this area. At Sidi Rezegh they, found 18 modern German tanks and much equipment, including wireless apparatus on the ground.

Dressing Station Retaken

“The. New Zealand divisional dressing' station, which had been overrun by the enemy during the attack, in which they occupied Sidi Rezegh, was found and the wounded there are being evacuated as speedily as possible. A number of guns overrun by the enemy in the same action have been recovered.

“Armoured car patrols of the Eleventh Hussars, working in the same area joined hands with patrols from the Tobruk garrison. Further east mobile columns of all armies, and from the South African and New Zealand Divisions have been actively scouring the area between Bardia and Tobruk, north of Trigh-Capuzzo. A number of parties of hungry Germans have been rounded up. Large quantities of petrol, ammunition and food stores were located hidden in the Gambut area where more enemy stragglers were found, and reserved for our own use or destroyed. Other parties' of our troops brought in a number of enemy anti-tank guns and other' weapons. Other small parties of starving Germans were found in some wadis. The total of these stragglers now captured- is about 150.” Merciless Bombing The Royal Air Force last night heavily bombed big concentrations of troops and vehicles travelling, westward along the coast road from Tobruk. A large column was found near a point where the by-pass around Tobruk joins the main coast road to Derna. So successful~were the results of the first attack that the bombers sped back, to their bases, reloaded, and again attacked the column before dawn. The Solium, Halfaya and Bardia areas are under constant shelling''from land and sea and are also subjected to heavy bombing. The military spokesman states that small but powerful mobile units are now waging the main offensive. The British forces are mopping up in the region southward of Tobruk and are also pushing westward from Sidi Rezegh. British anti-tank defences are being erected between El Adem and Bir-el-Gobi. .w.- ■.<t . It is revealed that the Black Watch and Cameron Highlanders were the Scottish regiments which co-operated with the New- Zealanders.

‘ln the frontier area, in addition' to maintaining pressure .on isolated enemy parties still holding out, an enemy detachment at Bardia was shelled. Throughout the whole area our mobile columns of all arms continued offensive operations with the utmost vigour. In this connection it is now known that a battery reported in yesterday’s communique ps destroyed by these columns was German and not Italian, and that in, the action the Germans, lost 90 killed, including the battery commander. Widespread Attacks “Our air forces continued their widespread activity in support of the ground troops. In particular, Acroma and the area between there and El Adem was attacked, buildings and transports being hit. The ground forces again succeeded in destroying two enemy divebombers. A communique issued by Royal Air Force Headquarters in Cairo states: “Enemy armoured and motorised forces and other objectives in El Adem and Acroma areas were effectively bombed yesterday and the previous night. Motor transport on the Acroma. El. Gazala road was heavily attacked last night and considerable damage caused. Derna and Benghazi were also raided, naval aircraft raided the aerodrome on the Castel Benito. Fires followed the attack.

“In combats over the Libyan battlefield yesterday six enemy aircraft were shot down and others damaged. Naples was again severely attacked on Sunday. Explosions and fires were seen in the arsenal, railway marshalling yards, and docks From these and other operations eight of our planes are missing.”