ENEMY LOSSES

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21532, 22 September 1941, Page 6

ENEMY LOSSES

FIGHTING AT TOBRUK TWO ATTACKS FAIL MANY PLANES DESTROYED (OiYlcial wireless) (Received Sept. 22, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 21 The abortive character of last week's enemy operations against Tobruk is well illustrated by details of the comparative losses available in London. The attacks were repelled by armoured cars, infantry and artillery, with air co-operation. No British tanks were engaged. The Royal Air Force lost one bomber and six lighters, five lighter pilots being saved, while the enemy plane casualties were 22 destroyed or captured, nine probably destroyed and nine others damaged. The enemy lost 10 tanks and 15 motor vehicles within the British area, while photographs indicate that four enemy tanks and three motor vehicles were destroyed by British bombing. The British losses were one armoured car out of action and. several motor vehicles damaged. An operational account of the action provides an instructive narrative: “At dawn on September 14, armoured car units which were in observation in the front of our desert columns south of the escarpment reported that two enemy columns were advancing rapidly south-east parallel with the escarpment at approximately three and 12 miles respectively south of it. Each appeared to contain from 40 to 45 tanks, accompanied by lorries and infantry. Our desert columns fell back to previously-prepared positions. These were dive-bombed by Junkers 87’s, escorted by fighters, two of the former being shot down by our troops. Both enemy columns, which advanced at between 15 and 20 miles an hour, were engaged and halted in front of these positions. Withdrawal of Enemy The enemy then refuelled, during which both his columns were heavily and successfully bombed. By 4 p.m. the southern enemy column had started to move south and later continued to advance east, though engaged by our troops and aircraft. In order to avoid being outflanked our southernmost troops withdrew at about 6 p.m., those farther north conforming. No contact was made during the night of September 14, and by dawn on September 15 the enemy had already started to withdraw, covered by strong fighter patrols. By 1 p.m. the armoured car units had regained their original line of observation but were counter-attack-ed by twenty tanks at 3 p.m. and again withdrew. By nightfall our desert columns had returned to their original positions in support of the armoured cars, and, though patrols made contact with German infantry patrols and tanks at Kiregat during the night of September 15, on the morning of September 16 the dispositions prior to the operations were reestablished. The enemy dispositions had also apparently returned to normal. Air Force Support The tactical reconnaissance, fighter and bomber support was excellent and of the greatest value throughout. Ail the squadrons of these formations, including Wellingtons and Fleet Air Arm Swordfish and Albacores, took part in the operations.

During the day of September 14, in addition to eight technical reconnaissances, the fighters provided sorties on the escorting bombers and were on protective patrols over our forward troops and landing grounds. Fighters also successfully groundstrafed enemy aircraft concentrations at the Gambut aerodrome. The bomber sorties included dusk attacks by Swordfish and Albacores, and night attacks on the Gambut aerodrome. On September 15 further reconnaissances were made to locate enemy movements, protected by a fighter sweep. The preliminary estimates of the casualties are twenty killed, 50 wounded, 12 prisoners from the Fifth Tank Regiment, plus 16 Italian airmen. ITALIAN MOVE PREPARING FOR BREACH MISSION TO AMERICA CHEERS FOR BRITISH (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 20 The New York Post yesterday published under a banner line an exclusive copyright story from a European representative saying that the Italian Government had sent a special mission to the United States prepared to take over the immediate representation cf Italy in Washington should a rupture dissolve the Axis as it did the Berlin-Moscow pact. It is alleged that the journey was made with the knowledge and consent of the British blockade authorities. No immediate breach of‘ the Axis is predicted, but the mission, it is said, will serve as a form of insurance if Nazi pressure becomes too severe. A report from Rome says it is authoritatively dened that Signor Attolico. Italian Ambassador to the Vatican, informed the Vatican that the presence in Italy of Mr Myron Taylor, President Roosevelt’s personal envoy to Vatican City, could no longer - be tolerated. An earlier report said Mr Taylor was returning to the United States on Monday, and was having his final j audience with the Pope tomorrow. It was said that Attolico had informed the Pope that the presence I of Mr Taylor in Vatican City created | a bad impression with tho Italian i Government, considering that the j United States had, de facto, entered | the war against the Axis. The British Air Ministry says Italian civilians cheered British I bombers which were attacking: j munition factories at Licata in j daylight last Wednesday, when heavy damage was done.

1 The Paris radio says it is reported j from La Linea that an explosion at I Gibraltar damaged two British vessels of 10,000 and 15,000 tons respectively.