Evening star., 1941-12-13
Encirc|ed Axis Troops
Attacked by British
West Of Tobruk
GozoIo Is Cut OFF,
Cairo Says; Enemy Is
Reported in Confusion

at Cairo declared today, as the Axis
reported violent fighting in that
area but denied the British had
scored decisive success, the Associ-
ated Press reported.
A communique said New Zealand
forces, reported yesterday to have
driven west from their base at To-
bruk, had cut off Gazala. 1t de-
clared that other British mobile
columns we'll to the west were caus-
ing widespread confusion and de-
struction among scattered Axis
units attempting to break through
toward Derna and Bengasi.
Our main forces" the COM
muniQue declared, continue their
advance west and northwest from
the area south of Gazala."
Axis casualties in the battle for
Gazala and fighting southwest of
there were placed at 3,000-half of
that number killed and the rest
wounded.
Three Localities Mopped Up.
Meanwhile, the war bulletin re-
ported, South African forces have
mopped up three defended locali-
ties held by the enemy southwest of
Salum"
These forces. apparently freed for
action by the cleanup in Ethiopia,
are being thrown into the action in
the Egyptian-Libyan frontier sarea
against Axis forces isolated by the
British drive past their positions
and deep into Libya.
Military sources said German Gen.
Erwin Rommel was believed to be
withdrawing in the hope Of solidify-
ing new defense line-possibly in
the vicinity of Derna, next big stop
west of Gazala.
Violent fighting was pictured both
east and west of Tobruk by the
Italian high command today in a
communlque declaring that the Axis
forces had repulsed heavy, tank
supported British attacks.
Increasing Pressure.
italian garrisons hemmed up at
Salum, Egypt, and the Libyan port
OF Bardia were reported officially
by the Italians to be resisting with
tenacity against increasing enemy
pressure"
The high command said the Brit
ish were much superior in numbers
and mechanical equipment"
A Berlin radio broadcaster re-
ported that seven British planes
were shot down yesterday in North
Africa and that British troops were
bombed and shelled successfully.
In Northern Cirenaica the Ital-
ians said Axis forces were fighting
strenuously against an enemy much
superior in numbers and mechanical
vehicles"
Heavy enemy attacks supported
by large quantities of tanks have
been driven of by the strong re-
sistance Of our troops, supported by
italian aircraft" the italian com
munique said.
Ia Planes Claimed.
Ten British planes were credited
officially to German fighters and
four others to italian anti-aircraft
batteries. Three Italian planes were
reported missing.
Light British raids were reported
ION various localities in Sicily and
Calabria "a section of Southern
italy,, particularly at Comiso and
Crotone," and Tripoh.
Patras, in Axis-occupied Greece,
also was bombed and the Italians
said 10 persons were killed and 81
wounded
The guns of British cruiser and
supporting destroyers riddled a 5000
ton Axis merchantmen, blasted
chunks of other ships hundreds of
feet into the air, and wrecked port
facilities at the Libyan port of Derna
early Wednesday, the British officers
said last night on their safe return
to Alexandria, Egypt.
Although the daring daylight
bombardment stirred up a hornets
nest of Axis bombers and coastal
artillery fire, none of the British
ships was damaged and none of the
crew injured, the officers said.
After the ships had poured hun
dreds of shells into the important
Axis port, they we're attacked inter-
mittently from am. until noon.
1--WE shot down one Junkers 81
and probably damaged several
Others" the cruisers captain said.
A considerable amount of French
equipment such as motor trans
port, guns and tanks is being used
by the hard-pressed Axis forces in
Libya. a British spokesman said
yesterday.
But I cannot say where they got
it." he added.
Commenting on reports that the
Axis may get use of Bizerte and
other French North African bases,
he said, Il wouldn't be surprised"
Even if they unload conveys at
Bizerte, the spokesman said the
Germans and Italians would have
a far longer and costlier trek across
the desert than they now have with
the use of Tripoli as a base for
receiving supplies in North Africa.
A senior British naval officer said
the Germans had no warships in the
Mediterranean except for sub
marines, which are particularly ac-
tive in the western area.
He declared the Italians have
acquired a severe case of cold feet"
as a result of tremendous losses in
fiicted on their shipping by the
British fleet and that there has been
a noticeable slackening in Axis ef-
forts to run the gantlet of bombs,
torpedoes and guns Of the imperial
fleet.
The spokesman said it was doubt
full that the Axis would be able to
send another armored division to
aid Gen Rommefs back-pedallng
and rapidly depicting forces in
Libya.