Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-25
Italian Tank Column
Is Routed in Egypt,
Hussars Report
Officers Describe
Important Bottle
Lasting Six Hours
BY EDWARD KENNEDY,

ASSOCldIeQ fTeSS WHf Correspondent.
WITH THE BRITISH DESERT
FORCES IN EGYPT, Nov. 25.-Out
of the silent desert case-hardened
officers Of a famed British Hussar
regiment brought spectacular ac-
count yesterday of how an italian
column Of so tanks was routed In a
six-hour battle on November 10.
The official communique dismissed
1t with a few lines, but to those
desert-wise men it was the most
important encounter between British
and italian forces here since the
Italians pushed their advance base
to Sidi Berrani last September.
The 'little party"-as they put 1t
took place at Hilquit. Is miles
south Of Sidi Barrani in the 70-mile
wide no-man's land between the
italian and British lines.
The fight started at am. when
Italian planes dive-bombed and
machine-gunned one Of the Hussar
patrols in the area. As such at
tacks usually precede Fascist land
movements, the British headquar-
tiers on hearing about it by radio
Immediately sent out more patrols.
Enemy Column Sighted.
"We sighted an enemy column Of
so tanks and other vehicles" re-
counted a Hussar officer. who now
rides to battle in tank instead of
on horseback.
1--WE gathered full forces into the
region, the Italians opening fire
when they saw our movements.
Our colonel gave the order to
attack. One squadron Of our tanks
darted around the enemy's left to
cut off retreat, while the rest OF
our force closed in to within 200
yards of the Fascist vehicles.
with heavy fire we disabled sew
eral of their tanks and sent two
ammunition trucks sky high when
their cargoes exploded.
Our tanks which had closed
around their rear inflicted heavy
damage on the Italian light tanks,
because they have less armor in the
back.
Italian Planes Routed.
"As the land battle ragged, IT Ital-
ian planes appeared overhead. The
R. A. F. charged into the enemy
formation, shooting down three Of
their planes at the first crack. The
remainder took flight. One of our
planes was lost: another was forced
down. but the pilot was safe.
las additional British tank patrols
came into sight at pm the italian
column beat a full retreat, aban-
doning three heavy trucks, five
tanks and some guns which had
been dismounted from trucks during
the battle.
THE Hussars remained on the
spot to blow up Mussolini's disabled
tanks, while the Italians-from a
great distance-took potshots at
them.
1.-THE Italians left nine dead in
the desert. We took 10 prisoners
and suffered only two casualties"
Officer Fled. Prisoners Say.
I visited the prisoners yesterday in
camp behind the lines. Two Of
them complained bitterly that their
commanding officer fed. leaving
them at the mercy Of the British
fire.
"A shell struck our truck. wound
ing the diver who was carried back
to the Italian lines" a prisoner told
me. I'VE stayed, trying to make the
truck run when another shell hit it
and knocked 1t out for good.
I'VE had instructions to destroy a
truck in such a case so we threw
hand granades into 1t. But it didn't
explode. Then there was machine
gun fire.
I'VE jumped under the truck and
before we knew it 1t looked like all
England was on U.s."