NORTH AFRICA FRONT

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1941, Page 5

NORTH AFRICA FRONT

R.A.F. Attacks [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, May 18. The widening area of operations in and around the Mediterranean is well seen by an R.A.F. Middle East communique issued on Sunday, de scribing many operations by aircraft of the imperialfand Allied Forces m which 21 enemy aircraft were de stroyed for the loss of three British planes The communique states: On the night of May 16/17, our heavy bombers attacked Benghazi, where considerable damage was done. A number of fires continued to burn long after our aircraft had left the target. Derna and Gazala were also raided. At Derna explosions, one of which was particularly violent, took place .among buildings south of the har* hour Fires were caused on the aerodrome landing ground at Gazala, which was bombed and machinegU<3ur fighters maintained constant patrols, during, one of which two Messerschmitts were shot down near Solium. Large motor transport supply columns on the Tobruk-Bar-dia road, and on the Capuzzo track, were s/uccessfully rrlachinegunned. Road traffic was completely stopped. During the attack, over twenty vehicles were completely destroyed by fire, and many others damaged. A petrol dump was blown up. In Abyssinia, Free French planes successfully attacked motor transport and troops in the Gondar area.

Rhodesian and S'.A.A.F. aircraft carried out other operations in support of our troops.

Sollum-Tobruk Area

BRITISH ATTACKS.

[Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, May 18.

The clash in which 500 Germans were taken prisoner around Solium, is described by Richard McMillan, the British United Press correspondent, in a despatch from Hell Fire Pass. The British, led by crack regiments, broke through the German lines on the Egyptian frontier and entered Libya, and gave the Nazis something thev are more ac- i customed to,- give than to receive. The two-pronged drive along Solium escarpment, brought our tanks and infantry to Fort Capuzzo, which changed hands twice in a battle lasting throughout the day, and which is now an unrecognisable heap of rubble. British mechanised infantry units fought a way to the top of Hell Fire Pass, and caught the enemy machine-gun posts in a with ering fire, after making an encircling movement. The Germans fled to the dried-up river bed, where they were cornered. Tanks and other units, including a famous regiment, pushed rapidly along the coast road to the outskirts of Solium, simultaneously making a pincer movement against the Germans, who were neatly cornered m the deep crevices of the escarpment adjoining Hell Fire Pass. This body of 250 Germans hastily dug holes m the barren side of the escarpment, but they were bombed and bombarded from sk v and land. Our soldiers from the top of the pass poured a hail of machine-gun bullets into every nook and cranny. In the attack on Fort Capuzzo, strong groups of tanks ploughed their wav over the sand. The infantry followed in lorries until the enemy were contacted, then with bayonets fixed, an advance began behind armoured units. The enemy put up a stiff fight, but we entered the ruins of the fort before retiring to prepared positions. Meantime, iour bombers 'attacked the barracks at Solium, where the Germans were established in force Then artillery was brought up and gave the be’.eagured Germans a pasting. Australians’ Gains IM TOBRUK DEFENCES AREA. (Received M’ay 19, 11.5 p.m.) RUGBY, May 18. A Cairo headquarters report stated: Extending over an area in whicn a successful counter-attack was delivered yesterday, Australian troops recaptured a number of strong points in the outer defences of Tobruk, and took twenty-five German prisoners. The enemy again suffered serious losses, including two medium tanks. Our mechanised patrols are continuing aggressive tactics in the Solium, Capuzzo, Halfaya area. (Received May 19, 11.50 p.m? CAIRO, May 19. The British Military Spokesman said that Australians were reoccupying that portion of Tobruk’s outer defences which the Germans had recently captured. Solium Fighting ENEMY REGAINS SOME. GROUND. FAus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received May 19, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. ' No news has been received from the Tobruk-Sollum area, since the report of Friday’s British advance. It is stated that Solium is still held by British forces. The Germans re-oc-cupied on Saturday some of the ground which the Australians on Friday gained, but it is above Solium.

GERMANS ON HEIGHTS.

ABOVE SOLLUM.

FAus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Received May 19, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 19.

The British headquarters in the Western Desert has made the following announcement: The Germans, re-assembling their forces, which had been scattered by British forces on previous days, have regained some of the positions they had, including the heights above Solium. The German forces are much more heavily armed than the British, but our offensive in the past few days forced them into positions where they became vulnerable especially to flank attacks.