FIERCE FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1941, Page 5

FIERCE FIGHTING

TAKING PLACE IN BAD WEATHER

NEW ZEALANDERS PUSHING WESTWARD.

IN COMPANY WITH BRITISH FORCES.

CAIRO, November 29. The main feature of the fighting yesterday, which was as heavy as any yet seen, was the expansion by the New Zealand and British forces of the junction with the Torbuk forces, reports the official war correspondent with the N.Z.E.F. Fierce fighting has taken place in bad weather, with a great deal of heavy rain along the coastal belt. It is emphasised that the object is still the destruction of the enemy armoured formations, but the infantry is well in the picture, as considerable opposition has been met. Details of the operations of the New Zealand forces are still obscure because of the speed of the movements and the fact that the fighting is not on fixed lines of attack and defence. In the areas already occupied local actions have continued. ■ Brisk hand-to-hand fighting has resulted in the corridor to Tobruk being widened to, six miles at narrowest point, says the correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain with the Eighth Army. South African infantry, supported by British tanks, have begun a flanking movement eastward of the main German armoured divisions, which are now between Sidi Rezegh, and Gasre el Aryid, 26 miles eastward of Sidi Rezegh. The United Press Association says the Axis forces east of Tobruk appear to be confined between the coast and a line roughly through Tobruk, Sidi Rezegh, Gambut and Bardia. Their scope for manoeuvre is thus considerably reduced, but there are no signs that their pugnacity is flagging. They are doing their utmost to prevent the consolidation of the British bridge between Tobruk and Sidi Rezegh. A German column comprising 40 to 50 tanks and between 1000 and 2000 lorries full of troops came from Capuzzo to attack the New Zealanders in the rear. The R.A.F. bombed and ma-chine-gunned them every mile of their advance till the British armoured units had time to come up to engage them. Their withdrawal not only removed the threat to the rear of our forces in the Sidi Rezegh area but forced the Germans into a more restricted area of operations and enabled the British south-east of Tobruk to concentrate their attacks. These British forces are at the same time pushing westward against strong Axis forces. Linked up with the British, the New Zealanders have been advancing westward continually for eight hours, despite the strong Axis opposition. Behind them strong Imperial forces are at-

tacking the remnants of General Rommel’s armoured units eastward of Sidi Rezegh. The gap between the main Axis strength and their armies- westward of Tobruk is steadily widening.