SERIOUS GERMAN LOSSES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 May 1941, Page 5

SERIOUS GERMAN LOSSES

FIGHTING ROUND SOLLUM 1 [U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) t London, May 17. ® The British operation resulting in the recapture of Solium was only of a local nature, its chief importance being the serious German losses, says the Cairo correspondent of the British d United Press. The R.A.F. put out of action more than 200 enemy vehicles in 24 hours. Fighter planes systematic- t ally strafed enemy troops, tanks and armoured units throughout the battle. An earlier peculiar sortie by the Gerfnans left their flanks uncovered t and provided the opportunity for the j. British assault. The enemy garrison r is believed to have consisted solely of Germans when the British entered. t The Berlin correspondent of the As- c sociated Press states that a spokesman v claimed that German and Italian units Q recaptured Solium yesterday. r MANY PRISONERS * Further activity in Libya is recorded in another official communique issued by British headquarters in Cairo, stating: “Throughout yesterday s advanced elements of the British me- n chanised troops continued their pressure against the German forces holding d positions in the Capuzzo area. We F captured more than 500 German prison- * ers and a considerable number of * their armoured fighting vehicles have been disabled. “In the Tobruk area British and * Australian troops carried out a limitcd counter-attack in which heavy cas- s unities were inflicted upon the enemy, 1 who left as prisoners in our hands two j officers and 60 German and Italian 0 ! other ranks. In addition, one medium tank, a howitzer, and three Breda guns s were destroyed.” a It is learned in London that the Brit- s ish have advanced their lines in the £ Tobruk defence area. a - == J-