RAIDERS HUNTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24135, 29 November 1941, Page 11

RAIDERS HUNTED

DIVERSION FORCE'S FATE ATTACK MADE TOO LATE ENEMY TANKS WORSTED (Heed. 10.30 p.m.) I/ONDON. Nov. 28 British armoured and mechanised columns are hunting the enemy raiding forces which yesterday broke up into a number of parties circulating on both sides of the frontier. In various brushes British columns yesterday accounted for five tanks and 80 other vehicles, while 300 prisoners, mostly Germans, were captured. Although this raid had a certain nuisance value, it did not succeed in diverting the British from their main object. Had the Germans made their diversionary attack on Egypt some days earlier, states one correspondent, it might have been a serious menace to the Allied forces. It can now be dealt with by light British armoured units. The enemy force broke through the British left flank and made a push to a point south of Sidi Omar. Part of the* force then broke away to the north, when it was attacked, another part tried to get back to its lines, and the remainder attempted to hold the Allies. Claim to Sidi Omar Denied There is no confirmation in London of an Italian claim to have retaken Sidi Omar. Latest reports state that the Indians still strongly hold the position and that their patrols have brought in many prisoners. The Rome communique adds: "Bardia is still in our hands. Fighting between tanks has again flared up in the central sector. We have repulsed further British sorties from Tobruk." A military spokesman in Berlin said: "The British have mustered such formidable forces that we must reckon on hard fighting during the next few days." Trap for Tank Column Describing a tank battle near Sidi Omar early in the week, Reuter's correspondent says: "Our light tanks, after engaging between 30 and 40 German tanks, drew them into a heavily mined area, where our anti-tank guns and 20-pounders, ingeniously camouflaged, were all ready to open fire from close range. The Germans came on full tilt, but seeing they were outgunned, quickly turned and made off westward in single file. Our shells crashed among them, and after the smoke cleared we found 18 tanks knocked out. As the remainder were withdrawing our aircraft dive-bombed them, causing furthe destruction. "Italians found inside some of the tanks declared that all had agreed to surrender as soon as they found the British. Other Italian prisoners complained that they had had only a cupful of water each for three days, and very little food. German machine-gunners behind them opened fire whenever they attempted to reach the British lines." Another despatch, dated last Monday, gives an unofficial estimate of the destruction of 50 Axis tanks in a fight which began after lunch and ended before sundown. Another mixed German and Italian onrush was thrown back with the loss of 40 enemy tanks. BREAK FROM TOBRUK HARD-FOUGHT OPERATION MANY PRISONERS TAKEN (Reed. 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 28 How the long besieged Tobruk force broke from the fortress earlier in the offensive and forced a corridor southward is described in a despatch from Tobruk. Operations started at 4 a.m., i the first objectives being the strongholds "Butch," "Jack," ".Till" and • "Tiger"—enemy posts so named by the Australians. "Butch" was taken in 15 minutes in the face of furious machine-gun and mortar fire, "Jack," "Jill" and , "Tiger" were mopped up after four i hours' fighting. i Thereafter the infantry headed for > El Duda and El Adem to link up with ■ Imperial forces from the south.. Opera- ; tions by the end of the day had gone 1 according to plan in the face of strenu--1 ous resistance from the enemy's strong--1 est battalions. Some 1100 Germans anc [ Italians were taken prisoner. ! Meanwhile ahead of the infantrj tanks played havoc with enemy posts Artillery blasted enemy troops and gur 5 positions. Never in the history oi 1 desert fighting has an artillery duel reached such a crescendo. * The Daily Mail's correspondent wit! | a cruiser squadron in the Centra s Mediterranean says: "We have beei [ steaming at 25 knots, sweeping every supply route to Africa. We have nol - fired a single shot, but we share witl ] other squadrons the satisfaction ol i knowing that not a ton of sea-borne j supplies has reached the Axis , forces ii Libya einc© tha iwittl® was joined!."