TANK BATTLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23995, 19 June 1941, Page 9

TANK BATTLE

BIGGEST OF THE WAR

BRITISH "IRONCLADS"

SOLLUM ENGAGEMENT (Herd. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON", June is One of tlie biggest tank battles of tin war is being fought on the Otfcarpment near He llfi re Pass, according to agency reports. A spokesman in Berlin said the British attack was now so heavy that it was possible to speak of it as a largescale offensive, aimed at retaking Oyrenaica, but official sources in Cairo repeat the warning against exaggerating the importance of the British attack. It is reported from Cairo that operations are proceeding on top of the escarpment, threatening to out off the enemy's advanced units, in spite oi the fact that the Germans still hold Solium. Extraordinary Manoeuvres A big tank battle developed on Sunday. Armoured forces charged and charged again, carrying out extraordinary manoeuvres. British "ironclads'' made a wide sweep southward of Hell fire Pass, surged up the escarpment and debouched on the triangular area between Solium and Fort Capuzzo. which has since been the battleground on which heavy fighting has continued. Encounters are almost entirely between mechanised units. Heavy fighting in Libya is reported in a communique from British General Headquarters in Cairo, which states that by a surprise movement Imperial troops made an initial penetration as fear as Fort Capuzzo. Reinforcements have been hurried forward from the Tobruk area, and many determined counter-attacks have so far been repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. Terrific Heat Terrific heat is making infantry movements difficult. Since the capture of Fort Capuzzo large forces have been engaged by both sides. Berlin states that the battle raged throughout yesterday. A Renter's correspondent reports that Imperial forces arrived within five miles of Hellfire Pass before the enemy attacked. There were fierce duels between aircraft and lijtht and heavy artillery. Not for one minute were fighters absent from the sky. The correspondent saw two Messerehmitts shotdown. Tanks and Armoured Oars While military circles in Cairo do not admit that the present fighting in the Western Desert is the beginning of a large-scale British offensive, newspaper correspondents emphasise that it is clearly very different from the recent spasmodic activity. Both sides this time are "flinging tanks and armoured cars into the battle, and both appear to bo strongly supported by aircraft. Fierce encounters are occurring on the top of the Solium escarpment, at a point just inside Egypt from Libya. It is reported that the British have now more aeroplanes in North Africa than ever, in spite of the diversion of a strong force to Syria. American aeroplanes are prominent. Excitement in Egypt The Times' Cairo correspondent says that enemy air forces have not yet been fully employed, although both types of Messerschmitts are offering stiff resistance. The British action has aroused enthusiasm and excitement in Egypt, especially because Sir Archibald Wavell is shown to be strong enough to initiate operations on two fronts. Supplies and equipment have been steadily pouring in f ( ,r months from Britain. America, India and Australia, and must be approaching real adequacy. The co-operation of ■ Imperial air forces with the troops in Libya was described in the Royal Air I'orce Middle East communique issued on Tuesday. It stated that Imperial aircraft were continuously active in support of the operations carried out by the ground forces in Cyrenaica. Numerous sorties were made by fighters to drive off aircraft attempting to bomb and machine-gun the British troops. In many instances enemy bombers were forced to jettison their bombs without attacking.

In the course of combats with the enemy ono Messerschmitt 109 was shot down and several others were severely damaged. A Hcinkel was destroyed on the ground. Benghazi harbour has again been b,imbed and attacks made on the aerodromes at Derna, Martuba and Gazala. Many dispersed aircraft are believed to have been destroyed.

waste materials

PLAN IN CANADA i Reed. 6.5 p.m.) OTTAWA. June 18 The War Services Department has announced that it has granted a charter to second-hand dealers to organise themselves into the Canadian Institute of Secondary Materials, the object of which will he to aid in the collection of scrap for a salvage campaign. The institute will advise on the most satisfactory way of collecting waste. It will also ensure that materials are prepared according to the specifications that industry requires.