WELL CARRIED OUT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1942, Page 3

WELL CARRIED OUT

WITHDRAWAL FROM GAZALA DETERMINED ENEMY ATTACKS REPELLED. TANK LOSSES HEAVY ON BOTH SIDES. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) CAIRO, June 16. A Headquarters communique states: “General Ritchie has completed the new disposition of his forces. The First South African Division and the 50th Division were successfully withdrawn from a position to the south of Gazala. The move was made under cover of a I magnificent fight by the troops holding the positions around Acroma and the First Armoured Division, which beat off determined enemy attacks throughout Sunday. Three strong attacks against our positions around El Adem were repulsed on Monday, with heavy enemy losses. Our mobile forces, attacking the enemy in the flank, played a valuable part in this action. “Our Air Forces had a successful day against enemy concentrations and destroyed a number of enemy tank and transport vehicles.” It is authoritatively stated that the two fortified positions now screening Tobruk are Acroma and El Adem, where the main fighting apparently is occurring. “It is clear that General Rommel failed in his attempts to isolate our troops remaining in the Gazala salient. However, we have withdrawn our forces entirely from the Gazala position, which the Germans probably have occupied, and the battle has moved northwards of Knightsbridge. The tank losses have been heavy on both sides. There is no evidence whatever that General Rommel had any more armoured divisions than the three with which he opened the attack. SATISFACTION IN LONDON i * ~~ FAILURE OF AXIS ATTEMPT AT. ENVELOPMENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, June 16. Satisfaction is expressed in London that the enemy effort, reported yesterday, to cut off the British troops in the Gazala salient, by an advance northwards in the Acroma area, has failed. The Italian claim to have reached the sea therefore has little meaning, since by the time they had done so two British divisions, holding the line running south from Gazala, had rejoined the main forces around Acroma. ITALIAN CLAIM NUMBER OF BRITISH SHIPS SUNK. LOSS OF CRUISER ADMITTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 16. Italian reports declare that in a big sea and air battle in the Mediterranean, in which two British convoys and their escorts were involved, a number

of British ships were sunk. A communique issued in Rome today admits that an Italian cruiser has been lost and a destroyer seriously damaged.