MORE INFANTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24132, 26 November 1941, Page 7

MORE INFANTRY

BATTLE AT REZEGH HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING NEW ZEALANDERS ENGAGED LONDON, Nov. 25 The fighting around Sidi Rezegh is every hour becoming more intense and more,furious, says the Cairo correspondent of the Times. Rommel's panzers are hitting back with wild desperation as the British draw in. Owing to the tank casualties the fighting is now over a relatively smaller area, although the area is still large. Renter's correspondent in Cairo says the area in which the battle is now raging is very broken, with two escarpments and innumerable wadis near by. Under these conditions it would not be easy for either side to break off such bitter battles. British air superiority continues. The Cairo military spokesman said there had been a concentrated tank battle in Libya for the past 48 hours, but the tanks are getting fewer and infantry is coming into it more on both sides. Considerable hand-to-hand fighting has occurred and the air opposition has increased, but the enemy aircraft are concentrating on back areas rather than on the battlefield. Fought in the Open The infantry that took part in the Rezegh battle comprised Britishers, New Zealanders and South Africans, who fought in the open without trenches. Infantry is playing an increasing part, firstly because of the heavy destruction of tanks on both sides, and secondly because of hilly and rocky country which is an obstacle to tanks. The military spokesman in Cairo ! stated that the* 1 infantry were going "hell for leather" and were proving their ability to outwit the German tactical experts. They were out to break the myth about German invincibility. Tanks Smash Through At one point the Italians were found to be well dug in and surrounded by a huge minefield and by barbed wire. Their fortifications were almost flush with the ground and there was little in the way of targets. British tanks, however, smashed their way across the minefield under a curtain of fire. Several of them were put out of action, but they paved a way for motorised infantry Altliough meeting a heavy cross-fire, the infantry charged the Italian positions. The Italians kept up their fire until the British were a few feet from them and then surrendered. The British dug in and held the position for a day and a night and then moved forward again. South African infantry. Supporting tank columns, cleaned up several Italian formations with the bayonet and grenades. ITALIAN ADMISSION GRAVITY OF SITUATION (Reed. 7.50 P m.) LONDON, Nov. 25 The Italian High Command spokesman, in a broadcast, said: "It roust he admitted that the situation m Libya is grave. All I can say is that the Italians and Germans resisting heavy pressure with gallant vigour. A Rome communique says several British units-wore badly mauled or completely destroyed west of Solium, as was tlie ease with the fourth armoured brigade, the commander of which, General Sperling, was taken prisoner. A military spokesman in Berlin denied that Bardia had been captured. The German communique claims that German and Italian counter-attacks in North Africa have proceeded successfully in the battle of Tobruk, and strong British attacks on the Bardia and Solium front were still in progress.