Evening star., 1941-11-23
British in CoPuzzo;
R. A. F. Planes Pound
Mossed Nozi onks
Punzers Are Consolidated
For Stand South of I Tobruk;
Garrison Breaks Siege
Bv EDWARD KENNEDY.

ny EDNAHD hENNEDf
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA Nov.
22Brtsh troops routed Axis forces from Fort Capuzzo
today and hundreds of British fighter planes attacked
massed German tanks in great battle to the west.
Fort Capuzzo, outpost Egyptian -libyan
border Zealand
the fort had changed hands in 10 months.
To the German Rommers corps. although
battered hard British consolidated
position for stand south Of Tobruk.
Returning pilots reported that Rommels panzer
divisions apparently had succeeded in joining forces for
parts knocked out isolated by British blows.
Many German tanks said have of action
British Hurricane fighters and Tomahawks pounded
the German tank formation for hours what officers said
the pitched battles between planes the
thus far
fighters swept the they almost touched
them with all cannons and machine guns blazing
Tobruk Garrison Through Axis Lines
al through lines
have had the under for months took several
hundred prisoners half of them Germans and half Italians
The from the British column by
miles of mnefd machnegun constructed by the
besegerS botteneck of south through
which might concevably the west
Italian formations IN triangular battle area bounded by
Tobruk Bardia Maddaena the forces
reported crumbling before the British attacks
Consolidation of forces achieved by
what left of division which had been in Bard the region
south of Tobruk the other had been stationed
which British around Tobruk
at dawn yesterday slowly but steadily stated
and may off bottleneck outlet
Returning amen reported this advance column had not yet
the units, but joining
battle German Italian infantry.
The force would have fight hand hand
through the guches leading the high the
escarpment formation
swelling rapidly African infantry rushing up
support the armored force
Campaign Becoming as Develops.
Striking north from the route of the main column were British
pncer on the Axis concentrations in the saum-Fort Capuzzo
The campaign plan gradually clear developed
Armen especially had an opportunity to see what at first
looked like of disconnected
fully worked out scheme to trap and destroy the Germans in
Cirenaica.
I'D proud myself I planned show" said
pilot
The extent of British superiority incredible.
Remembering where the days Allied
the sound of aircraft the signal take
for We knew would be hostile hard to believe all these planes
here friendly and there's Jump ditch each
approaching
scarcely throughout day plane
overhead Sometimes 20 them the time
coming land flying from other fields
share o victory
Libya knocking
out and two of the But the other opened
with its machine gun and downed the Naz
Air Protection Boosts Troops Morale Greatly
Air protection given the ground having tremendous
effect British morale And British officer said the reversal
of what has been the heretofore must be having opposite
Germans
The total bag opened
last Tuesday stands 90 planes destroyed
II others probably destroyed British air losses reported to be
"a planes number of whose pilots descended safely by parachute
The desertland all Crenaica for
coastal in the the British for
the Germans and Italians ventured far inland.
great although
British forces have been going through regularly Now these
patrols have practically to themselves.
r. A. F. fighters operating from landing feds-fat
gravey stretches with hidden fuel dumpswe inside the Lbyan
| frontier
The crump of heavy bombs resounded in desert
throughout last night flight after flight night bombers
division withdrawing nohward after
being by armoed force using American tanks
Tweny-six Naz tanks knocked out Thursday in
British inside Lbya 80 miles south
Barda These addition to As Italian tanks destroyed in
the onslaught another imperial amored column driving north
eastward in the direction of Tobruk.
| Naz Dive Bombers Suffer Heavily n Attacks.
the story for the Axis air force German dive
taking off after being stuck the mud for two days
suffered badly at the hands Of British pilots.
planes Thursday, IA dive bombers
Twentyone destroyed the ground The British
command said its losses that day four planes
time offensive started there moon
platinum thread sank the horizon
bombers carrying their etha loads over us could ne
against the bright desert stars.
Though both the and air commanders told us hey were
with the results thus far the campaign not an easy
one. AS expected, the Germans fighting stubborny
to winters campaign when Italian formations
were pieces thousands of Fac captured the
foe this time getting the worst Of it. putting up nara
scrap this time numbered no moro
than a hundred -
At Reas planes captured intact and 80 German ar
fei 6 the British column pressing toward
..tTbtfak %ss@
puz1o Capture Creates Fort s Gsp1aaS aoss which Il miles