MAN AGAINST TANK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 1941, Page 5

MAN AGAINST TANK

BRAVE DEEDS AROUND TOBRUK USE OF “MOLOTOV COCKTAILS.” MANY ENEMY VEHICLES BURNT OUT. LONDON. May 15. “It has been man against tank round Tobruk, and the individual soldier has shown that he is able to beat the tank,” a high staff officer declared. "There have been many instances in which carefully-camouflaged English and Australian troops single-handed have waited for the approach of a German tank. Their tactics have been to jump on the tank, smash the caterpillar tractor with an iron bar. and then throw a 'Molotov cocktail’ through the ventilators. ' "These 'cocktails’ are identical to those the Home Guard is using in Britain, and they have accounted for many burnt-out tanks lying round Tobruk's defences. The crews are burnt alive or escape screaming from the flaming vehicles. The Tobruk garrison is busily engaged making the 'cocktails.' To use them requires great heroism, but it works. The "Molotov cocktail," a very simple form of incendiary bomb, was first and with great effect used against the rather light German and Italian tanks in the Spanish war. Its present name was given by the Finns, who used the method against the Russian tanks. Though some are manufactured with modern improvements, it is in its simplest "home-made" form a bottle of petrol which smashes on the tank and is ignited by incendiary bullets. The factory models are self-igniting. Former members of the International Brigade from Spain began training the British Home Guard last year in the use of the weapon. x ENEMY LOSSES FIVE PLANES BROUGHT DOWN OVER CRETE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.30 a.m.) 1 RUGBY. May 16. It is learned in London that there has

been considerable air activity over Crete. Malena and Heraklion were bombed by the enemy, but there was no damage or casualties. Five enemy planes were brought down.