ARTILLERY DUEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24793, 18 December 1941, Page 7

ARTILLERY DUEL

THE BATTLE FOR GAZALA GERMANS HEMMED IN ESCAPE IMPROBABLE (N.Z.E.F. Official Correspondent) CAIRO, Dec. 16. New Zealand troops continue to invest the enemy strongpoint at Gazala, where a mixed German and Italian force is strongly entrenched in the positions it defends. During the last few days the New Zealanders have captured much equipment and arms and large numbers of prisoners. The battle at present is mainly artillery, and the New Zealand casualties are light. Meanwhile, other battles are in progress, with armoured forces engaged westwards of Gazala.

The position of the enemy forces at Gazala appears to be hopeless unless an attempt is made to reinforce them by sea or air,- which seems impossible. It is improbable that an attempt will be made to relieve them by the main German forces, which are contained about 15 miles to the west at Alem Hanza. An , armoured battle is develpoing 30 miles west of Gazala. *-'

THE NEW ZEALANDERS MANY PRISONERS TAKEN RUGBY, Dec. 16. . A Cairo headquarters communique states: In the general area south-west and west of Gazala our troops yesterday continued a steady advance in the face of resolute opposition and repsated counter-attacks by German and Italian infantry, tanks, and air forces. About Al§m Jamza, some 15 miles south-west of Gazala, British and Indian troops attacked a defensive position held by strong elements of one German and three Italian divisions, supported by all the remaining German tank strength. After heavy fighting, during which the centre of the enemy position was penetrated in spite of two determined counter-attacks by German motorised infantry and tanks, progress was made. The enemy supported the counterattacks with their maximum available force of dive bombers and other forms of air attack, but our air forces effectively countered these activities. Still further south-west and west our armoured forces simultaneously carried out a wide outflanking movement, and by yesterday evening they had reached El Olebam. some 30 miles west of Gazala, 1 from which area they were continuing their thrust against enemy reserves and the rear. During the day our armoured forces not only inflicted many casualties, but also destroyed 300 tons of enemy ammunition.

In the Gazala area itself operations were continued against strong forces of the enemy entrenched between the sea and the escarpment. Here also satisfactory progress was made in .the face of resistance at little cost to ourUp to yesterday the New Zealand troops engaged in this operation had captured a number of 75-millimetre Breda guns, many heavy machine guns, ammunition, and 1100 prisoners. They also shot down two enemy aircraft.

Meanwhile an enemy strong point south-west of Gazala was attacked and captured by Polish troops. Some 200 additional prisoners were taken in this area.

In the frontier area South African troops continued their offensive operations against German and Italian detachments, now isolated at Bardia and Halfaya. During the day one more enemy strong point was captured in the latter area. During yesterday’s heavy fighting our air forces operating over the whole forward area rendered invaluable assistance in limiting the degree of enemy air interference with our ground troops. Enemy motftrised transport columns on the roads about El Tmimi and Derna were also heavily attacked with good results. Further west our air forces destroyed and damaged many lorries in a column carrying troops.