IN THE LIBYAN FIGHTING AREA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1941, Page 5

IN THE LIBYAN FIGHTING AREA

Rapid Progress of British Enveloping Attack ROMMEL IN DANGER OF BEING CUT OFF FROM BASE CAPTURES BY NEW ZEALANDERS AT GAZALA LONDON, December 16. General Rommel is in danger of finding himself cut off from his base, which presumably is Derna. One of our arniouied forces has swept round behind the enemy south-west of Derna and the enemy’s communications are very seriously threatened. An observer in Cairo states that three main battles have now developed in Libya, where General Rommel has gathered his forces in a supreme effort to halt the British advance. The main fighting’ areas are at Gazala and 15 miles south-west and thirty miles west of that place. In their attacks our forces have driven westward against both German and Italian forces a good deal faster than they did against Italians alone at the beginning of the year. A Cairo communique also speaks of a steady advance. British and Indian troops penetrated to the centre of an enemy position in spite of determined attacks by German motorised infantry and tanks, supported by dive-bombers which were effectively countered by our air forces. Meantime our armoured forces have been engaged in a wide outflanking movement which has reached a point thirty miles west of Gazala. Our armoured forces destroyed 300 tons of enemy ammunition. In the Gazala area our troops have made progress ,at light cost to themselves. Up to yesterday, New Zealand troops had captured 1100 prisoners, many Breda guns and heavy machineguns and much ammunition. They also shot down two enemy planes. In the frontier area South African forces have continued successful forays against isolated Axis detachments in the Halfaya and Bardia areas. During yesterday our air forces made heavy attacks on enemy motor transport on roads near Tmimi and Derna and elsewhere. Direct hits were obtained on wharves and buildings at Benghazi. All the British planes returned.