British Success in African Campaign

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 122, 24 May 1941, Page 7

British Success in African Campaign

INCREASING ROLL OF CAPTURED ITALIANS (British Official Wireless.) Received Friday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, May 22. A further British Headquarters communique says: "At Tobruk there is nothing of importance -to report. In the Solium area during the night of May 20-21 advanced elements of our mechanised troops destroyed an enemy post on Solium Hill, knocking out three German tanks. Our patrols in this area are continuing vigorous and aggressive activities. • 4 At Araba Alagi all is quiet. In the Gondar area units of the Sudan defence force are closely engaged with the enemy in the vicinity of Chelga. So far over 3000 Italian prisoners have been captured. In the battle of the lakes operations are proceeding satisfactorily against two enemy divisions which have now been trapped between our forces advancing from the north and south. West of Sciascismanna our troops successfully attacked the main enemy positions. An Italian counterattack with tanks was repulsed and considerable damage was inflicted by our artillery on the retreating enemy. In this action the enemy left over a hundred dead on the field of battle. Our captures include 600 prisoners, ten guns and five medium tanks. Our casualties were slight. Fui*ther to the south our advance guards overwhelmed a complete rearguard consisting of a brigade headquarters and three colonial battalions. The captures in this area bo far amount to 4400 prisoners, of whom a large proportion are Italians, together with 32 guns and 14 tanks. "Operations in the neighbourhood of Allujah in Iraq are progressing. In the Basra area the situation remains calm.'"