GIVES BATTLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 297, 17 December 1941, Page 5

GIVES BATTLE

infantry and lorries. Both attacks were repelled, sixteen German tanks were destroyed and 370 prisoners were taken. In addition, British troops shot down two enem\ dive-bombers and two enemy fighters. I British forces are now penetrating into the area of the enemy's supplx , dumps, and have captured an Axis [ dump containing 70.000 gallons of fuel. I In the frontier area South African | troops have again been active. MopI ping-up operations on the coast be- ' tween Tobruk and Solium are proI ceeding satisfactorily in the area east and south-east of Tobruk. The scene of earlier battles is now being cleared | and material capiured from or abandoned by the enemy is being collected. Severe damage has been caused to enemy transport on the road between i Tmimi and Dorna. An R.A F. Middle East communique slates: “Objectives in Derna and enemy aircraft on the landing ground there were raided hy our bomber aircraft during Saturday night. Large fires broke out on the aerodrome and violent explosions occurred when bombs scored hits on barracks. Other bombs caused further explosions and tires. “Shipping and wharves at Benghazi were also attacked. During Sunday our fighters carried out a number of successful sweeps. In the Tmimi area a Junkers 87 was shot down and a Caproni 87 was also destroyed. Two Messerschmitt 109 s were shot down near El Gazala. while a Junkers 88 was shot dow n over Tobruk. “Our fighters machine-gunned motor transports moving along the Ghemini el Agheila road. Many casualties were inflicted on enemy troops and numerous vehicles were extensively damaged. “From these, and other operations, five of our aircraft are missing.” A Johannesburg regiment, without loss, captured a tank workshop at Mersa el Afrit. 30 miles eastwards of Tobruk. The Germans were surprised, but resisted with tank guns. The Germans destroyed ten tanks, but the South Africans captured 27. Only one .small tank escaped. More than 20 I tank experts were captured and also ia great deal of technical equipment.