15,000 PRISONERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24131, 25 November 1941, Page 7

15,000 PRISONERS

PROGRESS OF BATTLE VIEW AT HEADQUARTERS GERMANS WILL HIT HARD :<Kecd. 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 24 British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Army says that the British so far have .taken prisoner nearly 15.000 Italians and Germans. The stiffest fighting is raging around Sidi Rezegh, which has changed hands several times. A special correspondent writes that the latest information reaching headquarters indicates that the battle is going better than was expected. Following Saturday's sacrifice of tanks, the Germans have lost the chief support of their panzer divisions. A useful indication. says the correspondent, is that 60 German tanks in one place held to their position, which seems to point to a shortage of petrol. Further Intensive Fighting The British Command issued a warning on Saturday night that further intensive fighting was to be expected from the trapped Axis forces. The Germans had now recovered from the shock of their original surprise and might be expected to hit back hard in attempts to break out of General Cunningham's ring of iron. r All the Axis armoured divisions, including Italian, are now believed to have been thrown into the battle, says ® Cairo message, The Germans, in the absence of reserves, appear to be staking everything on beating the British a t Sidi Rezegh,- then retreating westward to new positions, but the viewpoint strongly held in military circles in Cairo is that General Sir Alan Cunningham and his men are slowly but surely winning. "Situation Good" The Axis is bringing up by aeroplanes and roads anti-tank guns, machine-guns and ammunition from the rear bases, says a correspondent at desert headquarters. Pilots already report an increase in anti-aircraft fire. The violence of the Royal Air Force attack has increased correspondingly, and our aeroplanes are on the ground °uly for refuelling. Air battles rage from- Jarabub to the sea. British headquarters late last night said the situation was good. The Indian division had captured 8000 Italians of the 15,000 prisoners taken, with considerable equipment, in the Sidi Omar area, but was encountering fierce resistance four and a-half miles west of Sidi Omar. Stiff resistance is expected west of Tobruk, where the Italians have built heavy fortifications and laid vast minefields. The Cairo correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company says it is now learned that the Tobruk defenders, sallying out. last Thursday, took prisoner 1100 Italians and Germans. The Times reveals that British and Polish troops "with tanks were gradually transported to Tobruk before the offensive, permitting the bulk of the Australians to be ■withdrawn "for a short, well-earned rest." The Times issues a warning not to Underestimate the possibility of an ©nemy counter-attack from western Libya.