SERIOUSNESS OF SITUATION

Southland Times, Issue 24602, 26 November 1941, Page 5

SERIOUSNESS OF SITUATION

ADMISSION BY AXIS (Rec. 7.20 p.m.) LONDON. Nov 24 The Cairo correspondent of the associated Press of Great Britain states that Hurricanes on Saturday badly handled a German force comprising 30 dive-bombers, escorted by 20 fighters. They shot down eight and damaged many. The remainder jettisoned their bombs and fled. An Italian High Command spokesman, broadcasting, said: “It must be admitted that the situation in Libya is grave. All that can be said is that the Italians and Germans are resisting heavy pressure with gallant vigour.” The correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain with the Bth Army says most credit for the advance in Libya so far should go to a column consisting of crack English regiments, which decisively hurled back a panzer force. The Englishmen used American M-3 tanks against much heavier German tanks. The aeronautical correspondent of The Times says the safety and mobility of the Royal Air Force squadrons have considerably increased by the employment of their own armoured car com-

panies, which protect transports taking supplies to new aerodromes. Reconnaissance flights over a period of months searched out tracts of country suitable for advanced landing fields and as the ground forces advance the Royal Air Force fighter squadrons are able to accompany them. NARROWING BOTTLE-NECK British artillery has been brought up to command the bottleneck between the Tobruk forces and those advancing northwards, which is steadily narrowing, reports the Cairo correspondent of The Daily Telegraph. The fighting has now shifted slightly south-eastwards of Sidi Rezegh. More and more infantry are being drawn into the battle, which is somewhat stabilizing the fighting, though this will not be fully apparent for a further 24 hours. A military spokesman in Cairo stated: “The infantry is going hell for leather, proving its ability to outwit the German tactical experts. They are out to break the myth about German invincibility. Gambut was probably the largest Axis supply base eastwards of Gazala. The whole vicinity is dotted with petrol, ammunition and food dumps. It is improbable that the Germans were able to remove any of these supplies.” GERMAN "GUN-CARRIERS” In an attempt to overcome the advantage of the British tanks’ superior armour, the Germans have thrown into the battle hastily-devised mobile artillery, says the British United Press correspondent with the Bth Army. The Germans are stripping the armour from some heavy tanks and mounting guns on the tank frame, hoping that the increased fire power will make up for the low protection. British officers report that these lumbering gun carriers are “easy meat” for the fast and manoeuvrable cruiser and American The correspondent of the Associated ; Press says a New Zealand patrol entered Bardia, which was found ; evacuated. South African infantry, supporting the tank columns, cleaned up several Italian formations with the bayonet and grenades.