AXIS FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1941, Page 5

AXIS FORCES

CUT OFF BV NEW ZEALAND ADVANCE PLIGHT NOW REGARDED AS SERIOUS. ENEMY MOVING AIR FORMATIONS FROM RUSSIA. LONDON, November 26. It is estimated that there are now more Italian than German tanks fit for action, says the Daily Telegraph’s Cairo correspondent. The Italian tanks, which are 13tonners, are not considered dangerous. While the British continue to hold Sidi Rezegh the Axis forces pushed as far down es Sidi Muftah, eight miles south-east of Sidi Rezegh where desperate tank engagements were continued over the weekend. The force from Tobruk which is five miles outside the Tobruk perimeter is reported to be “comfortable.”

The plight of the Axis forces cut off as a result of the New Zealand push must now be serious. If the New Zealanders retain their positions Solium and Halfaya must shortly fall like ripe fruit. The Daily Express says it is reported from Kuibyshev that the Germans have been compelled to withdraw" considerable air forces from the Russian front for Libya. Illustrating the confused nature of the desert tank fighting, the Times’s special Libya correspondent tells how formations of American tanks with the brigade headquarters and a supply column were suddenly attacked near the Sidi Rezegh aerodrome by 80 German tanks. When spotted the German tanks were mistaken for British and the first warning of the attack came from tracer shells and bullets flying among the headquarters trucks. An officer signalled the transport to scatter, which it dFd through a hail of artillery, tank shells and machine-gun bullets from the supporting German infantry. Most of the transport got away safely, leaving the artillery and tanks to fight the Germans until dark.