BRITISH PRESSURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1941, Page 6

BRITISH PRESSURE

INCREASING IN LIBYAN BATTLE AREA NUMBER OF TANKS CAPTURED. / STORES & STRAGGLERS GATHERED IN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, December 8. A Cairo Headquarter’s communique states: “Throughout the whole battle area our pressure is steadily increasing. West of Bir El Gobi, an enemy force of about 30 tanks and 500 motor-vehicles was heavily shelled and attacked by our armoured forces about midday on December 6, as reported in yesterday’s communique. “In this action seven enemy tanks were destroyed, and three enemy tanks and a number of mechanical transport vehicles were damaged. The enemy column withdrew to the west, still harassed by our forces. During the withdrawal, armoured car patrols of the King’s Dragon Guards picked up about 40 German stragglers. South of Tobruk and towards El Adem the centre of enemy resistance is being vigorously attacked. The area about Sidi Rezegh and Bir El Hamed now appears to be entirely clear of the enemy. Fighting patrols of the Border Regiment have been active throughout this area. At Sidi Rezegh they found, eighteen modern German tanks and much equipment, including wireless apparatus on the ground.

' A New Zealand divisional dressing station, which had been overrun by enemy during the attack in which they occupied Sidi Rezegh, was found and the wounded there are being evacuated as speedily as possible. A number of guns, overrun by enemy in the same action, have been recovered. Armoured car patrols of the Eleventh Hussars, working in the same area, joined hands with patrols from the Tobruk garrison. Further east mobile columns of all arms from the South African and New Zealand divisions have been actively scouring the area between Bardia and Tobruk north of Trigh-Capuzzo. A number of parties of hungry Germans have been rounded up. Large quantities of petrol, ammunition and food stores were located hidden in the Gambut area, where more enemy stragglers were found, and reserved for our own use or destroyed. Other parties of our troops brought in a number of enemy antitank guns and other weapons. Other small parties of starving Germans were found in some wadis. The total of these stragglers now captured is about 150.