STILL PUSHING ON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24775, 27 November 1941, Page 7

STILL PUSHING ON

THE NEW ZEALANDERS TANK BATTLE SLACKENS FATIGUE AND CASUALTIES RUGBY, Nov. 25. It is authoritatively stated in Cairo that the slackening off of the Libyan tank battle is due to a large extent to fatigue and casualties. It is mainly British infantry, which has been reinforced, that is now engaged The troops who made a sortie from Tobruk are not yet in touch with the main Imperial forces, but the New Zealanders are pushing on, although they are meeting with heavy opposition, There is no evidence of the enemy receiving fresh reinforcements, but R.A.F. reconnaissance shows where the Axis aircraft are reaching the aerodromes. When General Rommel’s tanks tried . the break-through at Sidi Rezegh South African anti-tank gunners, firing at point-blank range took a heavy toll of the German tanks, reports Reuter’s correspondent with the South Africans. Contact with the Germans was first established on November 23, when their tanks met such an effective barrage that they were forced to Withdraw. The attack was renewed the following day after a night in which the South Africans were subjected to continuous artillery fire. The German tanks exploited every means in a frantic attempt to smash througn. The battlefield was soon a swirling mass of tanks, armoured cars, artillery and infantry. The South Africans fought their greatest battle. - The latest information indicates that a radical change is gradually occurring in the Sidi Rezegh engagement, says the Cairo corresnondent ot The Times. Originally a mass encounter between armoured vehicles, the engagement is now assuming the guise of a modern pitched battle with mobile artillery playing a more important part. It seems that the tank units' have been temporarily drawn off- slightly and are now licking their wounds and taking stock of the position. The pace last week was too hot to last and temporary and permanent casualties compelled a breathing space. The tanks are now mainly attacking the infantry sporadically. The fighting, however, is no less fierce.

TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALANDERS “DOING THEIR JOB WELL” (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, Nov. 25. Fighting their way through as part of the general battle which still rages fiercely in the area round Sidi Rezegh, the New Zealand forces, with the support of British tank units, are continuing to advance in the direction of Tobruk on a line roughly between Trigh and Capuzzo. In addition to armoured support, the New Zealand forces have ' the protection of the R.A.F. and naval forces, which keep up a bombardment on points along the coastline. Following the capture of Gambul, where stiff resistance was encountered, the New Zealand forces yesterday continued their advance towards Tobruk, but the limit of the advance is obscure. Military circles in Cairo state that there is no news of attempts to recapture Gambut, the loss of which is a serious blow to the enemy. It is known, however, that pockets of resistance continue, and mopping up is in progress. There are signs that the tank battle has decreased in intensity, and it is anticipated that the infantry casualties will not be heavy, in spite of most bitter hand-to-hand fighting, in which the bayonet has been used. The Indian division which went into battle alongside the New Zealanders is now engaged to the east of Halfaya, while the New Zealand force effectively cuts off the retreat of the enemy.

The N.Z.E.F. again demonstrates its qualities in battle, and the military spokesman said: “ The New Zealanders have been given a job to do and appear to be doing it very well.”