AIR MASTERY

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

AIR MASTERY

RETAINED BY R.A.F. ENEMY GIVEN NO RESPITE DAY AND,NIGHT ATTACKS i LONDON, Nov. 23. All Axis armoured divisions, including Italian, are now believed to have been thrown into the battle of Libya, says a Cairo message. The Germans, in the absence of reserves, appear to be staking everything on beating the British at Sidi Rezegh and then proceeding westward to new positions. But the viewpoint strongly held in military circles in Cairo is that General Cunningham and his men are slowly but surely winning. This focusses attention on Sidi Rezegh and the complementary infantry engagement which began this morning in a region south of Tobruk, but it is pointed out thai even the stiffest German resistance here does not preclude progress by other British forces elsewhere in Libya, and drives which were hitherto merely

mentioned in the communiques may possibly produce important results at any, moment. The New Zealanders continue to advance toward Gambut, the capture of which would deprive the Axis of a big fuel supply centre, and one of Libya's best aerodromes. Rain Hampers Operations The R.A.F. retains air mastery and is continuing unceasing day and night attacks, bombing, shelling, and machinegunning enemy troops, tanks, and transport constantly, and interrupting the supply lines, notwithstanding increased Axis air opposition. Further rains in the coastal areas are hampering operations. A later message states: A powerful and well-equipped British Imperial and Free French army is ready to bar the way if the Germans attempt to smash across Turkey and attack Syria in order to divert Britain's attention from North Africa, says the Beirut correspondent of the British United Press. During the five months Britain was preparing for the Libya offensive strong reinforcements 'had been pouring into Syria, Palestine and Lebanon Battle for Sidi Rezegh The British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Army says the British so far have taken prisoner nearly 15,000 Italians and Germans. Very stiff fighting is raging around Sidi Rezegh, which has .changed hands several times. The correspondent said he had just returned from a tour of Syria and Palestine and had seen arriving steady streams of tanks of all sizes. Bren carriers, anti-aircraft guns, armoured cars, guns, and munitions, and had talked with veteran Australians from General Wavell's campaign in Libya, who had undergone further intensive training. They were already on the friendliest terms with the Turkish frontier posts in the north. Veteran pilots who fought in the Battle for Britain were ready, standing by with Spitfires and Hurricanes. South Africa and New Zealand had sent tens of thousands of men to the Middle East in the last few months. General Wavell also had another good-sized and wellequipped army in Iraq ready for any emergency, while the British-army in Cyprus had also been considerably reinforced and would not be caught unawares if the Germans attacked the island.

Mr Fielding Eliot, writing in the Herald-Tribune, says the magnifi-cently-timed British offensive in Libya has a good chance of relieving the entire Middle East and opening further offensive possibilities in the Mediterranean against Sicily, Sardinia, and even Italy itself. He added that there was a good prospect of the world witnessing the spectacle of a German panzer corps surrendering in the open field.