DRIVE IN DESERT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23968, 19 May 1941, Page 8

DRIVE IN DESERT

BRITISH TAKE SOLLUM

PRESSURE AT CAPUZZO

MANY GERMAN PRISONERS j (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, May IS Following the capture of Solium in a limited British operation on Thursday, further British successes are recorded in an official communique issued by the British Headquarters in Cairo. "Advanced elements of British mechanised troops continued pressure against German forces holding positions in the Capuzzo area," says the communique quoted in a British official wireless message. "We captured over 500 German prisoners and a considerable number of their armoured fighting vehicles have been disabled. "In the Tohruk area British and Australian troops carried out a limited counter-attack in which heavy casualtics were indicted upon tlio enemy, which left as prisoners in onr hands two officers and 60 German and Italian other ranks. In addition one medium tank, a howitzer and three Breda guns were destroyed. The British lines in tho defences area, were advanced." Serious Enemy Losses The communique dealing with tho occupation of Solium says that as the result of operations carried out by covering forces, British troops occupied Halfava Pass, Mussid and Solium, indicting serious casualties on the enemy and capturing a number of German prisoners. Only a few enemy units are now on Egyptian soil. The operation was only of a local nature, its chief importance being the serious German losses, says tho British United Press Cairo correspondent. The Royal Air Force put out of action over 200 enemy vehicles in 21 hours. Fighters systematically strafed enemy troops, tanks and armoured vehicles throughout the battle. Earlier a peculiar sortie by the Germans left their flanks uncovered and provided an opportunity for the British assault. Tho enemy garrison is believed to have consisted solely of Germans when tho British entered. Another report states that almost a whole German division was involved in the fighting. Most of the prisoners taken in the Capuzzo area were mechanised infantry and tank crews, many of whom were caught oil foot after their vehicles had been damaged. Recapture Claimed by Berlin The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America says a spokesman claimed that German and Italian units recaptured Solium on Friday. A German communique earlier stated that stiong British forces were thrusting toward Fort Capuzzo and Solium, supported by numerous tanks. Some contingents had penetrated into Solium. Extensive fighter patrols were carried out by British aircraft. Enemy mechanised columns and troop concentrations were attacked. A Messerschmitt 109 was shot down by Royal Air Force fighters and a Junkers 87 was destroyed by the South African Air Force near Akroma. Bombers made night raids on Benghazi, Derna, El Gazala and Barce. At each place considerable damage was done and fires and explosions were caused. In Middle East operations six British aircraft are missing but the pilot oi ono is safe. SINGLE-HANDED FEAT HUNDREDS OF PRISONERS ENEMY FORT CAPTURED (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 3C The single-handed capture of a large number of prisoners, such as might be the subject of a schoolboy's dream of adventure, has gained the award of the D.C M. for Warrant-Officer C. T. Buckley, says a British official wireless message. The official account of the incident says that during a recent battle he displayed such resource and courage that he captured several hundred prisoners. On one occasion his armoured car was escorting a party of prisoners and in the darkness he missed his squadron. His party encountered a group of the enemy and, although the accompanying lorries were unarmed, he attacked with such dash that the enemy, after suffering a few casualties, surrendered. While again escorting a party of prisoners the following morning, he attacked an enemy fort with his antitank rifle and captured the garrison. On both occasions lie was acting alone and without wireless, and has throughout operations set a magnificent example of boldness and determination. DIFFICULT JOURNEY AIRCRAFT HITS SEA SAFE RETURN TO BASE (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 10 An exciting and perilous journey home in a damaged aeroplane after the recent daylight attack on Heligoland was described by a sergeant-pilot, a British official wireless message states After telling of the clockwork precision of the attack, he said: "Wo did not hang about longer than we had to, and with all that anti-aircraft fire about I was taking violent evasive action almost at sea level. "1 do not, know whether a burst above the aircraft pushed me down, or whether a very high wave caught us, but suddenly the left side of the aircraft was covered with a whirling mass of white foam, and I knew the port airscrew had struck the sea and was churning it up. "With all my strength T pulled back the control column. Hitting the sea must have pulled us round, for I found we were heading hack to the guns on the island. We turned west again, keeping fairly level at 100 ft. The port airscrew was useless, having been badly bent when it hit the sea. Then a small but powerfully-armed German convoy suddenly appeared out of tho mist and fired at us. We wero a pretty lanio duck, but wo turned and managed to get away. "So long as wo stayed in the air there wero two courses open to us, either to givo the engine an extra boost and risk tearing it to bits with vibration, or to jog along and slowly sink. I decided to climb." Tho aeroplane was about 40 miles from the coast and night was coming on, but eventually England was reached, and the machine, in spite of a badly-damaged undercarriage, made a safe landing.