FEROCIOUS ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1942, Page 4

FEROCIOUS ATTACK

DEFENDERS OF TOBRUK OVERWHELMED BRITISH' TANKS KNOCKED OUT ’ ONE BY ONE. UNDER TERRIFIC GUNFIRE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 22. “Tobruk fell mainly through the difficulty of sending supplies by sea,” says the Exchange Telegraph Company’s Middle East correspondent. “Material counts above everything in desert warfare, and the Germans had the superiority. “Throughout Saturday,” the correspondent continues, “the Axis attacked Tobruk with a ferocity hitherto not displayed in any phase of the Desert campaign. By dawn on Sunday, wheli waves of Stukas started a dive-bomb- . ing blitz, with the artillery pounding the defences incessantly, it became evident that the garrison could not withstand much longer such a terrific ordeal by fire.” The British United Press correspondent in the Western Desert says the battle for Tobruk lasted for 26 hours and was the grimmest yet seen in Libya. “German and Italian tanks and shock troops advanced against the south-east defences, under a terrific barrage by the German cannon,” he continues. “About forty tanks remained to widen the gap, while others, supported by motorised infantry, dashed down the main El Adem-Tobruk Road. We sent out two strong tank forces against the enemy on the El Adem Road, but our tanks met an uninterrupted hail of shells from every gun i the Germans could drag on to the escarpment and were knocked out one by one. Five hours after the initial attack, Axis tanks commanded the main roads between Tobruk and Gambut and El Adem and Tobruk. The

enemy then spread out and wheeled against the rear of our forces holding the edges of the original gap created by the Axis forces, while bigger tank forces dashed in against our artillery and proceeded on their way towards our headquarters. Another tank group crashed through hastily erected roadblocks and entered the town shortly before nightfall. Fires blazed all night as we destroyed stores. Minor battles were fought in moonlight, as the enemy assaulted our outposts, where the gunners were exhausted after almost continual firing. Headquarters moved each time it was menaced, but it was only a question of time before the enemy mastered the entire fortress.”