THE BRITISH COLUMNS IN LIBYA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24142, 8 December 1941, Page 7

THE BRITISH COLUMNS IN LIBYA

rife, BITTER TOBRUK ZONE BATTLE NEW ZEALANDERS' GREAT STAND (Received December 7, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 7 The Allied, forces in Libya appear to have begun an offensive everywhere, concentrating on launching widespread attacks by mobile columns. These are said to have met with great success. So far, however, no major tank battle has taken place. The New Zealanders have fought a bitter battle alongside British troops in the Tobruk zone.

A communique indicates that the British are holding the initiative. The Germans have shown no signs of wanting to escape to the west. The Daily Express Cairo correspondent said earlier: "Our aeroplanes and flying columns continue to harass the German efforts to dig iin, but the bulk of the British armoured legion is resting and refitting. One resting officer is a South African test cricketer who has wounds in the leg and head. He had six tanks disabled under him and now commands a seventh. Met Full Shock of Panzers

"If you have any admiration to spare, offer it to the New Zealanders who almost alone met the full shock of the panzers on the rising ground outside Tobruk. It was a battle between German anti-tank guns and New Zealand infantry. The battlefield was like the Napier earthquake,' said one New Zealander."

A communique issued by Cairo headquarters yesterdaystated: During the last 24 hours our forces have maintained unremitting pressure on the enemy throughout the whole area. At El Duda what little ground remained in enemy hands after their third attack on Thursday has now been recovered by British North Country infantry from Tobruk as a result of night operations. Heavy Casualties Among Enemy Units

"South of El Duda an enemy column of 400 infantry and 1 50 motor vehicles was attacked by our artillery, machine-guns and aircraft. Heavy casualties were inflicted and the enemy was scattered in confusion. Another column of enemy infantry and transport attempting to move westward along the escarpment in this region was engaged by artillery and heavy casualties were inflicted. In the El Adem area west of Bardia still another of our mobile columns encountered a small enemy force, destroying 60 enemy vehicles and supply dump and capturing hundreds of prisoners. In another operation in the main area our armoured forces destroyed five enemy tanks. In the frontier area South African troops yesterday surrounded a body of enemy infantry south-west of Solium. West of Solium an enemy column some 300 mechanical transport vehicles and about 30 tanks isolated in Bardia were shelled. f

"It is now known that in their successful attacks on Bir-el-Gobi Indian troops destroyed 15 Italian tanks, 150 vehicles and 50,000 gallons of fuel oil. They also captured 400 Italian prisoners, two batteries of medium artillery, five anti-tank guns, 50 supply lorries and a large quantity of ammunition."