NEXT ASSAULT AWAITED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21958, 9 May 1941, Page 5

NEXT ASSAULT AWAITED

Tobruk Garrison Confident Germans Feeling Desert Fury By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Rec. 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. The Germans are preparing for their next assault on Tobruk in a record heat-wave with the temperature well over 100 degrees. The sand-laden wind is like a blast from a furnace. Metals are so hot that they blister the hands. The British garrison has cool bungalows and Italian built underground raid shelters, but the Germans, who are not acclimatised are exposed to the full blazing- fury of the desert. There is not a tree for 50 miles. Tents become hothouses. Their tanks are not air-conditioned and the men faint in them. An officer from Tobruk said the way they hurled back the last two enemy attacks had given the troops additional confidence, and they were taking the initiative in whirlwind night patrol ent.lrmci in urhioh t.hpv rnh the flftrmans

An officer from Tobruk said the way they hurled back the last two enemy attacks had given the troops additional confidence, and they were taking the initiative in whirlwind night patrol actions in which they rob the Germans of machine-guns, rifles and all sorts of equipment. The Germans have learned to be cautious after the Australians let entire motorised machinegun units behind a spearhead of tanks get Inside the defence, then blew them to pieces from both sides and from the front and from behind. The garrison has plenty of food and water. The Germari I 'hammering of Tobruk eased off partly owing to a stifling sandstorm and partly owing to temporary exhaustion from last week’s attacks. Dive-bombing has slackened although the Germans are still attacking shipping in the port and its approaches. The garrison which is under command of the Australian, Major-General L. S. Morshead, consists chiefly of Australians with some English and Indian troops. They eve constantly attacking the Germans. These attacks, together with the shelling and bombing, are inflicting considerable losses on the enemy. The Germans bring up artillery and mortars at night but their accuracy is unimpressive and the garrison remains confident. It Includes some of the hardiest troops in the Army of the Nile, notably some Australian sappers who walked 300 miles in 16 days, after escaping from the enemy and passing through his lines. Patrols continue to harass the Germans in the Solium region. Their success forced the Germans to send out patrols to protect the coastal forces. The Germans have found track-driven armoured vehicles unsuitable for prolonged desert operations, and are gradually discarding some types of tanks in favour of heavy eight-wheeled armoured cars mounting a gun. Air Pressure Maintained

A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states that during the night of May 4-5 the Callato aerodrome was raided. A number of large fires Was started and considerable damage was caused by a heavy bombing attack The aerodromes at Benina, Dema Gazala, Bardia and Berka, as well as the harbour of Benghazi were raided by our heavy bombers during the night of May 5-6. A hangar was ret on fire at Berka, causing large explosions, while at Benina bombs were dropped very close to dispersed aircraft and started a number of fires. At other targets the damage also was considerable.

In Abyssinia the remnants of the Italian force were bombed and machine-gunned persistently by the Royal Air Force, a Rhodesian squadron and the South African Air Force. A heavy raid was carried out on Malta by the enemy yesterday and some damage was caused to both military and civil property. Our fighters intercepted the enemy but were in turn attacked by Messerschmitts. The combat was inconclusive. From all these operations five of our machines are missing, but the pilots of two are safe.

Abyssinian Operations A Middle East communique dealing with the Abyssinian front states: Our converging movement upon Amba Alagi is progressing satisfactorily. While pressure from the north is increasing the Imperial troops have occupied Quoram, which is ony 30 miles south of the main Italian position. In this operation a number of prisoners were taken, including one general. In the southern area our troops engaged the enemy holding a strong position at Wadara, 30 miles south of Neghelli This operation also is continuing favourably. On the north-east coastal sector of Italian Somaliland we occupied Bender Kassin, capturing 100 Italian prisoners and a quantity of war material.