SWEEP BY NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24773, 25 November 1941, Page 7

SWEEP BY NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

CAPTURE OF GAMBUT GREAT DESERT BATTLES HEAVY TANK LOSSES ENCIRCLING THE ENEMY (United Press Association) / - "(By Electrtc, Telegraph - Copyright) (Bee. 2 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 24. The New Zealand forces which have captured Bardia and Fort Capuzzo continued their western advance and have captured Gambut, an important aerodrome and supply centre, midway between Bardia and Tobruk. It was stated in London to-day that the first phase of the Battle of Libya is over, and that \\" it has gone extremely well, the British armoured formations having reached the points allotted to them/ The second phase has now commenced, r with the object of destroying the enemy's armoured forces and encircling his armies. The result is a tremendous battle, with a terrific, tank encounter in the neighbourhood of Sidi Tlezegh. In this battle heavy losses of tanks are being suffered by both sides. # The enemy is reported to be bringing up reinforcements by troop-carrying planes and is also believed to be reinforcing his air strength. Yesterday there was more fighting in the air ir< ., v than' ever.before, .and sometimes as many as 50 Planes were engaged in the one encounter. The ... » enemy, however, is unable to give effective support to his ground forces owing to the domination of the air by the B.A.F. With guns roaring and planes skirmishing in dogfights ever the battle area, fighting was resumed when German tanks which had been assembled in Libya on Saturday night in the neighbourhood of/El Adem, on the newly-built Tobruk ■road, led a fierce and powerful attack ,in an attempt to recapture Sidi Rezegh. \ A British armoured brigade and support group, including a famous line regiment, held its ground in a'fight that lasted for an hour around a few shacks and tombs of sheiks. i., % The Tobruk garrison made a further advance and reached a point two miles from an armoured division that is cutting off the retreat westwards of the German panzer divisions*-now considerably reduced in strength. At the same time, British armoured forces, supported by South Africans, are gaining positions to cut off any attempt to move eastwards by the Germans, and are thus slowly completing an encircling movement that will ultimately lead to a conclusive battle. Artillery is in position ip'■'.coyer a .gapi that still exists.

On Sunday morning German forces were still holding positions at Solium and on the frontier. "S The Nazis' heavy tanks are being greatly hampered by mud and inundations, especially to the west of Tobruk, where immense areas «re under water. High winds and occasional dust storms have failed to prevent the R.A.F. from playing its part in the invasion by repeated attacks on the enemy's communications and the destruction of planes on the ground in daring low-diving assaults. Not a single opportunity of bringing Axis planes to battle is lost. In spite of formidable air reinforcements, the Luftwaffe has been unable to give real help to their motorised forces, owing to the constant watch maintained on their movements by Tomahawks and other R.A.F. machines. Pilots on reconnaissance sorties report that many machines are to be seen on enemy aerodromes—an indication that Hitler is doing what he can to Send air support for his tanks.

Mass dogfights between' Tomahawks and Messerschmitts on Sunday resulted in the. destruction of nine Messerschmitts. Five Tomahawks of 21 have not returned to the base, but may have landed for refuelling on desert landing grounds. " The Axis forces are bringing up by planes and roads anti-tank guns, machine guns and ammunition from rear - bases," says the"""British United 'Press correspondent at desert headquarters. "Pilots already report an increase in the anti-aircraft fire. British headquarters late last night said the situation was good. In the Sidi Omar region an Indian division captured 8000 Italians with considerable equipment, but it is encountering fierce resistance four mile and a-half west of Sidi Omar. Stiff resistance is expected west of Tobruk, where the .Italians have, built heavy fortificatrons and ' laid vast minefields." "An examination of the German prisoners indicates a drain on Germany's man-power," says the correspondent of the Associated Press at desert .headquarters. "One group.of , prisoners comprised old reservists due for final mobilisation last year, and another/group which recently arxived in Libya included several who had just been released from hospital. Some were still wearing bandages on unhealed wounds." .Sunken Italian Convoys

According to a high neutral diplomat at Ankara, 6000 Axis trbops perished in two Italian convoys sunk in the Mediterranean on November 9. Large

quantities of ammunition also went down

An attack on a supply column on the El Ademcroma road began with a Tomahawk raid at noon. Tomahawks blocked the road by destroying 20 vehicles, killing or wounding about 100 men. Two more squadrons strafed the column for three hours, later setting fire to petrol tankers and other lorries. A squadron of "Hurry" bombers carried out a most damaging raid at dusk and scored direct hits on four lorries with four bombs. Other members of the squadron destroyed an average of three vehicles each. One pilot described a particularly devastatv Ing raid on an east-bound Italian

supply column near Tobruk. "There were hundreds of vehicles and we took them by complete surprise. We swept down to 40 feet or less and gave it to them right dOwn the line, then back, and then back again, shooting them up for nearly an hour, completely wrecking convoys. You have seen men in the talkies when shot throw up their hands and pitch forward. I saw at least 100 go down that way. We were so close that we could have picked our victims. It was a pleasure to be giving these fellows a taste of their own medicine." Axis Air Reinforcements Air Vice-marshal Arthur Conyngham confirmed the reports that the Axis was rushing up air reinforcements. He pointed out that the Axis had the advantage in proximity to Italy, Crete, and Tripoli, and he added that Junkers with trailer gliders were not a factor to be ignored. He paid a tribute to the Tomahawks, which, he said, were the reason for the absence of Stukas. i

The South African force is reported to be driving towards an Italian armoured division which re-formed 30 miles west of El Adem. presumably in an effort to screen the Axis withdrawal to Derna.

Royal Air Force circles in Cairo report that not a single R.A.F. supply vehicle has thus far been lost. The size of the R.A.F.'s problem can be judged from the fact that the squadron is making several sorties a day, and uses from 3000 to 4000 gallons of petrol a day. Desert tank battles usually occur at a range of from 300 to 800 yards, although often as much as 1200 yards, says the Cairo correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The battles extend over a vast area, and the tanks manoeuvre, firing continuously until one side has" lost such a proportion of its forces that the survivors make off. Fire-power, speed and armour are the three decisive factors, and the American tanks have shown superiority over the Germans in these respects particularly, repeatedly outpacing their opponents and being able to take heavy punishment. Human losses in these actions are comparatively low, and it is not uncommon for a tank to be knocked out without casualties to the crew.