FOCUS OF THE FIGHTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24134, 28 November 1941, Page 6

FOCUS OF THE FIGHTING

Sidi Rezegh continues to be the fighting focus of the battle in Libya. Both sides have been bringing up reinforcements for a fresh trial of strength, and this may already be in progress. The Dominion has a special interest with the arrival at the crucial sector of New Zealand forces in support of the British and South Africans, who occupied the ground a week ago and have since held it against the furious assaults of the enemy. How large a part of the New Zealand Division is involved has not been stated, but probably the whole of it, less the units detached to occupy and hold points captured on the advance, such as Capuzzo and Bardia, and to mop up enemy pockets encountered eil route. Considering the opposition that had to be dealt with between Gam but and Sidi Rezegh, the division has to its credit a line military achievement in covering 40 miles or more across the general battle area in less than three days. The importance that General Cunningham attached to this transit for the reinforcement of Sidi Rezegh is indicated by the tank and air support given to the New Zealanders' advance. Now they have entered the storm centre of the present operations. The contest is still the same. The " Imperial forces are fighting to complete the encirclement of the main body of the enemy by 'closing the gap between Sidi Rezegh and the defence perimeter of Tobruk, while the Axis forces struggle to keep it open and widen it.