SOUTH OF TOBRUK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1941, Page 5

SOUTH OF TOBRUK

FIGHTING CONTINUES WEST & EAST ENEMY RAIDING COLUMN BROKEN UP. INTENSE BRITISH AIR ACTIVITY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, November 28. A Cairo headquarters communique states: ‘‘South-east of Tobruk, British and New Zealand forces, which yesterday made direct contact, are forcing their way westward in the face of determined opposition. At the same time, east of their point of junction, enemy detachments, still in considerable strength, are being engaged. i ‘‘Meanwhile an enemy raiding column, swelled by German elements, which had joined it from defensive positions between Halfaya and Sidi Omar, moved westward with the evident intention of trying to rejoin the main Axis forces engaged in battle west of Sidi Rezegh. This westward movement was being conducted in two main bodies. Shortly after midday yesterday the northern body, which included a number of German tanks, was effectively engaged twelve miles south of Gambut by our bomber aircraft. It was subsequently heavily attacked by British armoured forces, which had been despatched to intercept its return. After two hours intensive fighting the enemy was reported to have been scattered and a large number of vehicles were observed moving northwest, towards Gambut. Over the whole battle area our Air Forces successfully continued their intensive activities in support of our ground troops. North and north-west of El Adem, large concentrations of enemy mechanical transport vehicles were attacked and mach-ine-gunned, with highly satisfactory results.” HUNTED & HARRIED ENEMY RAIDING COLUMN (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) RUGBY, November 28. It is now learned that an enemy raiding column, which crossed the frontier in the Sidi Omar area on November 25, after being bombed and shelled and attacked by tanks, apparently turned back into Cyrenaica and went north. Some elements joined small enemy columns in the Bardia-Halfaya-Sidi Aziez area. Yesterday afternoon, while proceeding westwards, it was intercepted and attacked by British armoured forces, about twelve miles south of Gambut. ENEMY SEA ROUTE BLOCKED SINCE BATTLE OPENED. DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY SHIPS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) ■ LONDON, November 28. , A correspondent of the “Daily Mail who has been with a cruiser squadron in the central Mediterranean for 10 days said: “We are steaming 25 knots, sweeping every supply route to Africa. We do not fire a single shot, but we share with the otner squadrons the satisfaction of knowing that not a ton of sea-borne supplies has reached the Axis forces in Libya since the battle was joined.” . , . Another message states that in their attacks on enemy sea communications in the Central Mediterranean, as a preJude to the offensive, in Libya, the Navy and the Fleet Air Arm during the last four months have sunk 139 Axis ships.