BEATEN BACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1941, Page 5

BEATEN BACK

ENEMV FORCES AT TOBRUK DETAILS OF BRITISH CAPTURES. 9 VIGOROUS PATROL ACTIVITY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, April 17. One of our patrols in Libya successfully penetrated an enemy position outside the defences of Tobruk and captured seven Italian officers and 139 men of other ranks. A further attack on the defences of Tobruk was repulsed by artillery fire and the enemy again suffered heavy casualties. During yesterday’s operations a total of 25 officers and 767 other ranks were captured. In addition, over 200 enemy dead were left on the field. In the Solium area patrols have continued their vigorous activities. In one encounter a considerable body of the enemy was surprised and sustained severe casualties. . "In Abyssinia further progress has been made by our columns converging on Dessie and a number of additional prisoners have been taken. The prisoners of war returned to Addis Ababa now number 5,000 Italians and 4,000 Colonial troops. In the Alge area a number of deserters from Italian and Colonial units have voluntarily formed themselves into irregular bands to co-operate with our forces. The whole advance continues.”