MAIN BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1941, Page 5

MAIN BATTLE

REINFORCEMENTS BROUGHT UP ON BOTH SIDES Diversion Raid Towards Frontier of Egypt BEATEN BACK WITH HEAVY ENEMY LOSS ANOTHER DESERT OASIS CAPTURED LONDON, November 26. The latest news of the Libyan battle is that another great tank clash is expected hourly. Both armies have brought up reinforcements to the main battlefield around Sidi Rezegh. United Kingdom and South African troops are holding their positions and have been joined by the New Zealanders, who have advanced, with British tanks, from west of Gambut, overcoming opposition on the way. A few miles north of Sidi Rezegh British forces from Tobruk, supported by tanks, are steadily penetrating eastward of the original positions they captured when they moved out of Tobruk. The main object of both armies is the destruction of tanks. Both sides have thrown reinforcements into the Rezegh battle. Numbers of British tanks have been overhauled and fresh armoured forces have also been brought up in readiness for the clash which is expected to take place today. Enemy mechanised forces made a big diversion raid south of Sidi Rezegh, striking eastward towards the Egyptian frontier. They were constantly attacked by bombers and low-flying fighters. When they reached the frontier they were met by field guns and tanks and lost about one-third of their estimated strength in tanks. British mobile columns with tanks were also organised to deal with the enemy forces and when last seen the latter were headed back to the west. Operations are developing satisfactorily against the Italians in the inland area. United Kingdom and South African mechanised forces, in co-operation with Indian troops, have captured an oasis 130 miles south-east of the main Tobruk coastal road. This followed the capture yesterday of another oasis and means that the British now hold the only important oasis in that part of the desert. Naval and air forces are giving the closest co-operation to the land forces. Since the offensive began, seven enemy supply ships or transports have been sunk, an enemy schooner laden with supplies set on fire and a cruiser and destroyer probably sunk. The Navy has also bombarded coastal targets and enemy supply lines along the coast. Air co-operation is close and efficient over both the battlefield and the enemy supply lines and enemy planes have been successfully attacked and a number destroyed. Enemy mechanised forces, tanks and transports have been bombed. Westward of the battlefield, particular attention is being paid to enemy supply bases. A bigfire was started on the central mole at Benghazi, Low-flying aircraft swept a.great stretch of road being used by the enemy and petrol tankers, lorries and other fuel carriers were destroyed. In the central Mediterranean a bomber shot down a Messerschmitt.

From all these operations, including attacks on targets at Gondar (in Abyssinia) in which direct hits were scored, three of our planes are missing. Land forces approaching Gondar have made further progress.