TANK ACTIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 267, 13 October 1941, Page 5

TANK ACTIONS

OPERATIONS IN DESERT.

BRISK ENGAGEMENTS

(United Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 12 noon) RUGBY, Get. 12. A British Cairo Headquarters communique says that, in spite of their rough haifdling on the previous nig'ht, German tanks, in considerable numbers, again approached the north and south-east of Tobruk duringtEriday night.

Another small listening post nearly a mile beyond our outer perimeter defences was overrun, causing us casualties of two killepd and seven wounded. In the other sectors a number of our patrois, maintaining the initiative gained through hold and determined action all through the summer months, continued their offensive tactics with highly successful results. in the south-west sector an Australian patrol captured an Italian, officer and destroyed the whole of his platoon. Jn tiie same sector another of our patrols ambushed a party of tinenemy 11.4 strong, inllioting 40 casualties before the enemy heat a rapid retreat. Our patrol subsequently withdrew without loss.

Close by yet another patrol of the enemy, .numbering oil, was ambushed and practically wiped out. Further south a patrol of 30 Italians was surprised and routed, leaving in our hands ■do dead, together with the officer in charge, who was wounded. In the frontier area our patrols have again been active oil a wide front. POST OVERWHELMED. On Thursday night the enemy deployed an even large number of tanks than before in 'areas outside the perimeter of the defences of Johruk. Alter putting up a stout resistance a small post manned by nine British soldiers was overpowered and oniy two of our men managed to withdraw. Subsequently enemy tanks were surprised and engaged by our own tanks at close range. After receiving many direct hits the enemy tanks withdrew, hut owing to tho darkness prolonged pursuit by our forces was impossible. Polish artillery and infantry are now among tiie defenders of I ohruk. Men and equipment were landed unmolested under protection of the Navy. The majority of the Poles participin ed in the war in Poland, and are no" fully trained for desert warfare. British fighters were active over the Libyan frontier ■ area on Friday, but there were no decisive engagements with the enemy. Numerous reconnaissances were carried out. The latest information from Africa records the destruction of Italian Savoia aircraft on the ground at Jibuti aerodrome in French Somaliland by a British machine, thus showing that Britain is carrying out her intention of “attacking the enemy wherever she finds him.”—Officiai Wireless.