OFFICIAL REPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1941, Page 5

OFFICIAL REPORT

SURVEY OF THE RECENT OPERATIONS SUBSTANTIAL BRITISH TANK REINFORCEMENTS. CAPTURE OF JALO OASIS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY. November 26. A Cairo communique states: “Throughout yesterday, British and South African troops in the general area of Sidi Rezegh held their ground, while New Zealand reinforcements, with important British tank formations were steadily making progress westwards, in face of considerable opposition.

“Meantime British forces from Tobruk,. supported by tanks, had steadily penetrated eastwards from their original positions, captured in the first two days of their sally. This force has now added to the number of prisoners taken and has also captured 24 field guns. <■ “In the Sidi Rezegh area, which remains the main battlefront, the German High Command has also brought up reinforcements, and another heavy clash is expected to develop today. Meanwhile, in an effort to -divert attention and forces from the main operation, the enemy staged a raid on a substantial scale along the general axis across the frontier south of Sidi Omar. This raiding column was last located in the area midway between Halfaya and Sidi Omar. From Gabr Salh onwards, it was continuously attacked, both by our bombers and by low-flying fighters. When about to cross the frontier, this enemy raiding column was engaged by our field guns and by our tanks, losing about one-third of its estimated strength in tanks. British mobile columns, with tanks, have now been organised to deal with this diversion. “Considerable British tank reinforcements, previously held in reserve, have now reached the forward areas, where our armoured formations are rapidly reorganising after five days of continuous fighting to resume their part in the main operation about Sidi Rezegh. “Further south, British and South African mechanised forces, in co-oper-ation with Indian troops, have captured Jalo, taking 200 Italian prisoners, together with quantities of stores and equipment. The operations in this region continue to develop satisfactorily. “Our Air Force continues to co-oper-ate with bombing attacks on enemy motor transport and armoured fighting vehicle concentrations in the battle, area. One particularly successful attack on an enemy column resulted in a number of enemy vehicles being hit and damaged.”

ITALIAN CLAIM BRITISH TANKS BEING WIPED OUT. LONDON, November 25. The Italian news agency claims that as a result of Axis counter-attacks the British in some sectors have lost the initiative and are in a delicate position. A large part of the British armoured forces are surrounded and are now being wiped out.