MOST SAVAGE TANK STRUGGLE OF WAR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1942, Page 5

MOST SAVAGE TANK STRUGGLE OF WAR

ORDEAL IN DESERT

Air Force Strikes Hard At

Nazi Rear

U.P.A. and British Wireless. Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, May 31. R.A.F. pilots in Libya are swooping overhead and raining down a ceaseless fire upon the enemy, as the battle is building up to a climax after five days' fighting. It has been the most prolonged and savage tank battle of the war, and observers say that it cannot continue much longer. There must be a decision soon because flesh and blood cannot stand up to the fire and heat much longer. Reports state that neither. side has gained the ascendancy, but it is stated that the situation is not unfavourable to the British forces. One British observer says the fighting has not gone according to the Nazis' plan. The Germans were planning to deliver a critical blow within four days, but the work of our forces has upset their timetable. R.A.F. fighters made more than 200 sorties over the Libyan battlefields on Thursday in support of the British land operations, states the Air Ministry news service. From the first light until nightfall the R.A.F. and South African fighter and bomber 'squadrons strafed enemy fighting vehicles, petrol bowsers and motor transport.

The enemy losses were heavy and the estimates of the pilots of our fighters and bombers are known to be conservative. One squadron which claimed to have destroyed 10 vehicles later saw more than 25 vehicles abandoned at the same spot. Throughout the day the closest support was given to the army, and many bomber sorties were made north of Bir El Harmat and southwest of Tacoma, in response to calls from the army for close support

The squadrons were able to keep a _ complete watch on the progress of the battle and provide both the army and air force headquarters with detailed pictures of operations on both sides. Although the air force was devoting the greatest part of its effort to attacking the enemy land forces, air battles were frequent and Axis aircraft were engaged wherever encountered. Many enemy air attacks on British troops were broken up.

The German tank forces have withdrawn some distance southwards of Knightsbridge, says Reuter's correspondent with the Eighth Army. The Allies' firm stand at Bir Hacheim has greatly hampered the German supply organisation and their armoured forces are believed to be running short of rations. German attempts to upset the British rear supply organisation by night bombing have completely failed. The Germans are fighting on British ground and as a result all damaged German tanks fall into our hands. The German field repair service is unable to operate as in previous campaigns.

NURSES IN LIBYA WORK IX THICK OF BATTLE LONDON, May 30. Two nurses, one Australian and the other French, are working in a field dressing station in the thick of the Libyan battle, says the London Daily Telegraph Middle East correspondent The Australian is believed to be Nancy Wright, 31, of Moree, who married American ambulance driver le Clair Smith at Beirut (Syria) last February. "The two nurses are probably closer to battle than women have ever been before," the correspondent adds. "When I talked to them three weeks ago at their field dressing station at Bir Hacheim (40 miles south-west of Tobruk) both girls shrugged their shoulders at the idea of danger. The Australian girl said" •We're here to do a job, and we'll do it, no matter what the conditions are.'" Bir Hackeim is on the southern flank of the British, armies engaging Rommel's Axis forces. In 1940 Nancy Wright served with a British ambulance unit behind the Maginot Line.