Tobruk Wrecks Enemy Plans For Attack

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 107, 7 May 1941, Page 5

Tobruk Wrecks Enemy Plans For Attack

Counter-assault Delivered Axis Invasion of Egypt Disrupted United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, May 5. Tile British forces have quickly followed up the enemy’s failure at Tobruk by a counter-attack, and heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy. A new British defence line has been built. The prisoners already taken since the Italo-Gemmn offensive started total 3000, and many of these have already been shipped away. The opinion is expressed in Cairo that the failure of the attack on Tobruk means a heavy blow to the German prepare--1 ions to advance against Egypt, because they cannot fully use the coastal road, while every day’s delay means that we are enabled further to reinforce our troops in the Western Desert.

“At Tobruk, on the night ol May 3-5, -ur troops launched a counter-attack inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and breaking up preparations which were being made for a renewal of the attack,” says to-day’s communique from British General Headquarters at Cairo. “In the Solium area, our mechanised forces were again active. Several enemy detachments were successfully with losses in personnel and armoured fighting vehicles. “In the Delub sector of Abyssinia, Indian troops occupied Emadan and Ulethert on May 3. During this action, a heavy counter-attack by the enemy in greatly superior forces was driven back, leaving an officer and 250 other ranks prisoners in our hands. “Yesterday, further important positions were occupied and the advance upon Amba Alagi i s steadily progressing. A large number of enemy troops have surrendered—the number has not yet been counted. "In the southern districts, further progress is reported by all our columns operating in pursuit of the enemy.” Inner Defences Intact After breaking up the Italian and German preparations for a fresh attack against Tobruk, the British forces yesterday threw up new defences facing the south-western sector of the outer defence ring, which the enemy occupied last week. Military circles in Cairo said to-day that the British aimed thereby to preserve the outer ring unbroken. This objective has now been achieved. The portion of the defences occupied by the enemy is about 2000 yards long, but its depth is slight. The Italians and Germans are nowhere near the Inner ring. The vigour with which the defenders of Tobruk assailed the attackers surprised the Italians and Germans on April 30 and May 1. The attack lacked co-ordination. Eleven tanks in one assault headed for an Australian anti-tank gun, but it and a neighbouring gun quickly destroyed four. Three members of the crew of the Australian gun were wounded, but the other three carried on until the attack was beaten off, after which our troops immediately resumed their offensive patrolling, while the artillery resumed the bombardment of enemy communications. Meanwhile, Indian troops have reached 50 miles southward of Asmara into the heart of the mountainous area north of Abyssinia. The advance continues over tracks winding round the sides of mountains and through gorges, where the enemy is using every advantage of terrain to block its progress. Amba Alagi, the present objective of the Imperial forces, is situated in an area thousands of feet high. Widespread R.A.F. Raids. During the night of May 3-4, R.A.F. bombers raided Benina aerodrome, near Benghazi, causing a number of fires and explosions, says to-day’s Middle East communique. Derna aerodrome also was bombed with similar results. Enemy motor transport and mechanised units, some of which were carrying troops, were both bombed and machine-gunned in the Maraua area. A number of motor transport vehicles were destroyed and others damaged, and casualties were inflicted on the troops. Other bombers attacked military headquarters south-east of Tobruk, causing four large fires. Italian headquarters in Abyssinia was machine-gunned by fighters of the South African Air Force, and a vigorous attack was made on stores dumps, motor transport, and troops throughout the day between Falage Pass and the Dessye road. It is estimated that more than 100 motor transport vehicles were severely damaged, and the stores dumps were repeatedly hit by bombs.