STILL FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 December 1941, Page 5

STILL FIGHTING

SECTION OF N.Z. DIVISION IN VARIOUS AREAS RECOVERY OF SIDI REZEGH. MUCH ENEMY MATERIAL CAPTURED. (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, December 8. Sections of the New Zealand Forces are still fighting in various areas. Part of our force is at Tobruk, where it is engaged on the new outer perimeter, and others are in the Bardia sector, where mobile columns are operating. Several determined enemy attacks have been beaten off by New Zealanders in the Tobruk circle, and heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy. The artillery engaged is using some weapons and material captured from the Germans, and the high standard of the New Zealand artillery is again emphasised. The Bardia-Tobruk area appears to be clear of the enemy, and no Germans have been seen on the intermediate roads during the last 24 hours. The New Zealand dressing station which was captured by the Germans at Sidi Rezegh has been found, and the wounded are being evacuated. Our artillery has also recovered some guns from this area.

The main occupation of the New Zealanders at present, apart from the force at Tobruk, is clearing the northern sector, where many prisoners have been taken, and much material captured. This has been particularly so in the Gambut area, which place the New Zealanders took in the first days of the fighting. The enemy had petrol, food, ammunition and stores hidden in many wadis and these are proving useful to our forces.