LIBYA BATTLES

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21598, 8 December 1941, Page 6

LIBYA BATTLES

INCREASE IN ACTIVITY DESTRUCTION OF TANKS MANY PRISONERS TAKEN (OfTlclal wireless) (Received Dec. 8, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 7 A Cairo Headquarters communique says: During the last 24 hours there has been considerable activity in the area between El Adem and Bir-el-Gobi. In an action four miles east of Bir-el-Gobi an enemy force of about 100 vehicles and two tanks ! was engaged by South African i troops, one tank being knocked out and the transport dispersed. The column was forced to withdraw. Two other actions in this general , area were still in progress when the | latest reports reached Cairo. In one j of them enemy infantry had attack- j ed British and Indian troops north of Bir-el-Gobi, and we had counterattacked. Fighting continued in the moonlight. Further north armoured forces of both sides were reported in action. The progress of this action was not to hand, although there were indications that our armoured forces met with some success. South-west of Bir-el-Gobi yesterday evening an enemy column, with some tanks, attacked British troops, but met with no success. During these engagements in the Bir-el-Gobi area our forces bombed enemy forces while they were refuelling, obtaining many direct hits. South-east of Tobruk British patrols penetrated several miles south of El Duda, without encountering any opposition. These patrols destroyed fifteen enemy vehicles and two field guns and captured three German anti-tank guns and 25 German prisoners. A little further east, in the Sidi Rezegh area, South African troops engaged in mopping-up operations removed or destroyed petrol and burned 62 enemy motor vehicles and two aircraft and captured supplies and petrol dumps. In the frontier area operations against isolated enemy frontier garrisons are proceeding satisfactorily. Mopping up Operations Vigorous offensive operations by our mobile columns of all arms continue throughout the whole area. As a result, apart from a few isolated pockets, very few enemy remain between Tobruk and the frontier. In particular numerous casualties have been reported among enemy vehicles and troops on the Trigh-Capuzzo road, where a few Germans were captured. Mopping-up operations north of the coastal road east of Tobruk resulted in the surrender of 27 Italians and a little further west in the Sidi Rezegh-El Adem area the enemy is being subjected to continued harassing. Among the losses inflicted by these mobile columns on December 6 were the destruction of 23 Italian tanks and a complete Italian battery. Our air forces again continued their heavy attacks against enemy concentrations and enemy motor vehicles, in addition to affording direct support to our ground troops. Particularly effective results were obtained in the El Adem area, where they bombed a group of enemy tank transporters being loaded with heavy tanks. TANKS IN BATTLE GERMANY’S HEAVY LOSSES DESTRUCTION BY BRITISH (United Press Assn. —Eiec. TeL Copyright) (Received Dec. 8, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 7 The military spokesman at Cairo stated that the bulk of the remaining German tank force engaged in battle with British tanks nothward of Bir-el-Gobi. Early reports said the British appeared to be successful, but the full result of the heavy fighting is unknown. He added that the German columns recently on the Capuzzo road have been withdrawn. Cabling from the battle headquarters of the Eighth Army, a correspondent states that toll has been exacted by our land and air forces from the enemy in the last three days. The “lull” has been only relative. The British forces in this period definitely destroyed 49 planes, mostly German, and probably destroyed 14 and damaged eight, destroyed about 30 tanks, two medium batteries and five anti-tank guns,' and captured 700 prisoners, 150 mechanised transport vehicles, 50 ammunition lorries, 45,000 gallons of petrol, and 10,000 of Diesel oil. We lost 18 planes. Most of the pilots are safe. Our ground casualties were not heavy enough for the advanced forces to consider worth reporting to headquarters. Main Action of Campaign

Today’s communique states that the armoured forces of both sides joined in battle about midday yesterday and that the action apparently is still in progress. It is thought here to indicate that the main British and Axis armoured forces are concerned in this clash, which is taking place to the southwest of the Tobruk corridor. It is conceivable that this battle may develop into the main action of the campaign. General Rommel’s intention may be the same as that of the British commander—to smash his enemy—and so be ready to launch a pitched battlei like those of the Napoleonic wars, where the whole fate of the campaign depended on victory going to one side in one engagement.

Apart from the main battle the British mobile forces in the frontier areas are reported to be carrying out “vigorous offensive operations” with satisfactory results. A further important point in the communique is the removal or destruction of petrol supplies, so essential to the enemy, by the South African troops in the Sidi Rezegh area. AMERICAN NATIONS EXECUTIVES TO CONFER (United Pres* as-«i—Eler. Tel. Copyrlgnt) SANTIAGO (Chile). Dec. 5 Reports circulated in Foreign Office quarters disclosed that the chief executives of all the American nations will meet soon to consider important changes in the international situation.