NIGHT BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1941, Page 5

NIGHT BATTLE

OCCUPATION OF SIDI REZEGH ENEMY RAIDING COLUMN BROKEN UP. ANOTHER DAY OF SUCCESS FOR AIR FORCE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY November 27. A junction of New Zealand forces from the west with British forces from Tobruk is announced in a Cairo communique, which states: “During the night of November 25, New Zealand forces, supported by a British tank formation, recaptured Sidi Rezegh and bccupied Bir el Hamed, in the face of heavy opposition. Stiff fighting continued in this area throughout yesterday and it was not until early this morning that elements of the relieving forces were able to join hands at El Duda, with British forces from Tobruk, which yesterday captured that important locality. “Meanwhile British armoured and mechanised columns are hunting the enemy raiding force, which yesterday broke up into a number of parties circulating on both sides of the frontier. In various brushes our columns yesterday accounted for 5 tanks and 80 other vehicles, while 300 prisoners, mostly Germans, were captured. Although this raid had a certain nuisance value it has not succeeded in diverting us from our main object. “Our air forces again had a successful day, particularly in co-operation with ground forces. Operating against German and Italian reinforcements' west of Sidi Rezegh our bombers and fighters destroyed several tanks and numerous transport vehicles.”