The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-26

Nneed in an area midway between NRlfaya and Sidi Omar" the corn- munique said, "hut from Gabrsaleh onwards it was continuously at- tackled by our bombers and low hy- ing fighters."
 m regard to the German thrust Into Egypt, the communique said:
 m an effort to divert our atten- tlon and forces from the main oper- ation, the enemy staged e raid on a substantial scale along general axis from Gabr Saleh eastward across the frontier wire south of Sidi Omra.
 Last Position Of Raiders
 This raiding column was last lo- cated in an area midway between Halfaya and Sidl Omar. From Sabh Saleh onwards 1t was continuously attacked both by our bombers and low-fiying fighter attacks. When about across the frontier, the enemy rAid!ng column was engaged by our field guns and by our tanks, losing about one-third of it's strength in tanks. British mobile columns with tanks have now been organized to deal with this diversion"
 In regard to the main battlefield mt Sidi Rezegh, the commun!que said that British infantry continued to fight forward from Tobruk and from Q westerly direction while ar- tillery was rushed into the front in an effort to bolster the drive.
 Most important, however, appeared Co be the arrival of British tank re- lnrorcements on a battlefield where both sides had almost exhausted their armored strength in five days of furious fighting
 "Considerable British tank rein- forcements previously held in rec serve have now reached the forward areas where our armored formations are rapidly re-organizing after five days of continuous fighting to re- sume their part in the main opera ton about Sidi Rezegh," the com munique said.
 Fighting Way Out
 The British force fighting its way out from Tobruk toward Sidi Rez- egh was said to have continued "steedy penetration" eastward and captured more prisoners in addition to 24 enemy field guns,
 New Zealand forces with import ant" British tank formations also are making progress westward with the main invasion force in an ef- fort to join up with the Tobruk garrison.
 In regard to the long British stab to Glalo, the communique said that @operations in this area continue to develop satisfactorily"
 "Our air forces continue to COG opervte with bombing attacks on enemy motor transport and con- centrations of armored fighting vehicles in the battle area" 1t add ed. "One particularly successful at- tack on an enemy column resulted in damaging a number of enemy vehicles"
 The Axis army fought desperate ly, striving to keep open a shifting four-mile gap in the British circle south of Tobruk through which to bring in supplies and as an avenue of escape if the pressure proves ir- xegistible.
 Rommels forces were aided by air reinforcement flown in from Sicily, Crete and possibly even Germany and the Russian front,
 But the British moved up fresh Royal Air Force attachments and were reported to be maintaining contNol of the air despite a series of dogfights with reinforced Luft- waffe units.
 Inside the big ring, the fighting turned to series of free-for-alls, mostly between small tank units, aided by truck-transported infan- try and artillery. Losses were very heavy on both sides and most of the original tank organizations in- volved were now out of action.
 The British garrison at Tobruk was reported to be marrying the rear of the German position at Rezegh but its path to juncture with the main British force was be- lleved barred by extensive mine nelds laid by the Germans and Ital- ians in the seven months they have besieged Tohruk.
 It seemed likely that the Tobruk troops would be content to hold a pear-shaped bulge jutting toward Rezegh, while waiting to take ad- vantage of any weakening of the Axis troops to advance.
 Half Way Across Llbya
 There was no new information here on the dash halfway across southern Libya of the 5th Indian division whose capture of Augila, just north oS Gialo oasis, some 225 miles from Jarabub oasis on the Egyptian border, has been an- n0unced. It was believed headed for Ei Agheila on the Gulf of Sidra, 200 miles distant. and possibly Age- dabia, 60 miles north of Fl Agheila. Such an advance would cut the coastal road along which supplies from Tripoli move to Rommel and would also bar an Axis retreat.
 Along the coast west from Gam &me q New Zealand force was driv- ing toward Tobruk. The distance ss less than 50 miles and it was be- Ieved the New Zealanders are ap- uroaching the Axis siege lines out Nide Tobruk.
 The New Zealand troops were re- norted in high fettle after their capture of Gambut. Among them was a famous Maori battalion which distinguished itself in the thick of 9he fighting in Greece and Crete. 50 was their engineers who cut the Axis pipeline supplying water to the German forces at Solum and Hall &aya.
 Correspondents at the front said She fighting around Rezegh was so