RESOLUTE DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1941, Page 5

RESOLUTE DEFENCE

BROKEN BY ATTACKERS

AUSTRALIAN AND BRITISH UNITS.

CAPTURE OF THE DERNA AIRPORT.

LONDON. January 30. Prisoners who were taken at Derna insisted that General Bergonzoli. who commanded the Derna garrison, is now organising a new line west of Derna for a final attempt to halt the British drive. The Italians at Derna, in a strong attempt to delay the inevitable, rained thousands of shells from the three forts and from other batteries against the Australian infantry. The British guns replied and in the weekend silenced the most troublesome battery. In face of the severe fire the Australians had advanced three miles to within four miles of the town. The defences did not equal those of Tobruk, but three forts surmounting ridges dominated the approaches. The British worked throughout Sunday night and brought up guns. From their new positions the Australians advanced under the protection of these guns and. with armoured units, reached on the following morning Derna airport, which the Italians were forced to abandon leaving a few dead. An Australian infantry platoon and a North Country machine-gun platoon shares the honours of capturing the airport and of carrying the last defences of Derna. They wormed their way on their stomachs across the airfield. and for four hours derelict planes wore the only cover from the Italian machine-guns, which spat unceasingly Some were wounded and it was more difficult to get them back than to go forward, but just at sundown the Australians got to within striking distance and rose and charged with fixed bayonets. The Italians fled. The Australians occupied the hangars and then afterdawn discovered the Italians only 350 yards away with throe tanks. Machinegunners on both sides furiously exchanged fire. Finally, the arrival <>f Britishmanned anti-tank guns turned the scale. They set on fire one Italian tank ami crippled the others, which fled. The Italian gum: from the forts immediately opened up and plastered the aerodrome with accurate lire, pumping in 150 shells in 90 minutes. Two Italian lighters also swooped kYo'.vii and machine-gunned platoons >ut the Australians and North Countrymen filed out and accompanied their tanks unfalteringly through the hail of fire. Their machine-guns rattled and. with the aid of British bombers which suddenly appeared, they silenced the nearest battery Io gain Derna thev had to go down a bare vtill.-v and climb up th.- Other side with an Palian battery firing straight along it Nine bomber i am! 20 fighters .'ittacked die Amur.ill.m; and -.upportmp ar’illerymen. but then- marksmanship wa jHior, British fighters swooped m and .ehot down two and chased off oth,--. While anti-Mreraft gum; brought d-.e.vn a third. The British artdl.-ry moved on and continued it. potmdmg v .hd t - the Au . tralian; mopped up position after ; tinn. The Italian '..-ink. attempted :• Coimter-attnck from the west agaimt the attack.-!- it;,:.,-. h u; Atl units went out t>> m»-<->. them ...,i after a brisk encounter the p,j made off leaving GO dead GALLIPOLI RECALLED. Other and Australian Pree then moved up and n-.ad<- ’ • drive to Derna f ■ >ni the original heroes from the ,m ...,. struggle?! op ntr.’v. dry p... draggled but gr, -■-!•,• dr tert’.'.;: . ! and field • f !. 1.. i Another A