TERRIBLE HEAT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 May 1941, Page 5

TERRIBLE HEAT

FIGHTING ROUND TOBRUK HARASSING THE GERMANS ) AUDACIOUS TACTICS USED • [U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] London, May 15. “It has been man against tank round Tobruk, and the individual soldier lias shown that he is able to beat the tank,’ a high staff officer declared. “There have been many instances in which carefullycamouflaged English and Australian troops single-handed have waited for the approach of a German tank. Their tactics . have been to jump on the tank, smash the caterpillar tractor - with an iron bar, and then throw a ‘Molotov cocktail’ through the . ventilators. 0 “These ‘cocktails’ are identical to those the Home Guard is using in 8 Britain, and they have accounted for • many burnt out tanks lying round To- - - bruk’s defences. The crews are burnt alive or escape screaming from the flaming vehicles. The Tobruk garrison is busily engaged making the ‘cocktails.’ To use them requires great heroism, but it works. “The fighting is going on in terrible ) heat. The temperature in the shade between Bugbug and Solium is ÜBdeg. *• To-day’s British communique states 11 that the Imperial troops have been continuing vigorous patrolling activities in both the Tobruk and Solium areas. | (The “Molotov cocktail” a very simple form of incendiary bomb, was first and with great effect used against the rather light German and Italian tanks in the Spanish war. Its present name was given by the Finns, who used the method against the Russian ) tanks. Though some are manufactured with modern improvements, it is in '• its simplest “home-made” form a bottle of petrol which smashes on the tank and is ignited by incendiary bullets. The factory models are self-igniting. 2 Former members of the International j Brigade from Spain began training the British Home Guard last year in the use of the weapon.)