Evening star., 1941-12-03
Libyan Battle Tempo
Drops, British Say;
Axis Holds Bardia
ImperioIs Recognizing
For Fresh Assault on
Triangle Of Tanks
RN ht Associated Press.

IIIuH9Ie VI IuINS
BN ht Associated Press.
Fighting continues over wide
area IN Libya. but the tempo OF
battle has decreased for the time
being" British general headquar-
ters at Cairo said today.
The British declared that empire
forces had withdrawn and were re-
organizing for a new test against
the strongly-held AXIS triangle
formed by Rezegh Biz El Hamed
and Zaarran aStride the broken cor
ridor to Tobruk.
On both SIDES. the British general
headquarters said, troops and tanks
are being regrouped for the next
phase Of the fight, in which posi-
tions have shifted like the desert
sands.
Axis still Holds Bardia.
Bardia still is in Italian hands. a
British authority in London said.
London claimed the British re-
manned in possession of Ed Duda,
a few miles northwest Of Rezegh.
The Germans and Italians denied
loss of Bardia after a British COM
munioue November % said a New
Zealand detachment had been left
to occupy the port. which was re
ported clear of the enemy"
New Zealanders by-pa Ssed Bardia
III moving west from the Egyptian
frontier. the London authority said.
and lit was subsequently established
that the city was occupied by Ital-
ians."
Division Declared Circled.
A German military spokesman in
Berlin declared that a New Zealand
division had been encircled and
knocked completely out Of action in
Libva, with its members captured
or killed.
The high command said the
scene of this action was southeast
of Tobruk and that the bulk OF the
division was partly destroyed and
partly captured.
The Italian high command an
nounced that Axis forces had de-
stroyed a number of British ar
mored vehicles between Tobruk and
Salum. where sharp fighting was
said to be continuing despite bad
weather.
Seventeen British tanks, five ar
mored cars and 20 motor trucks were
knocked out of action by italian
forces defending Sidi Omar COM
munique said.
The Italians said the British had
shelled fortified Axis positions
around the port of Bardia, just west
OF the Egyptian frontier and said
their own guns had returned the
fire
They also acknowledged that Brit
ish planes had bombed Bengasi,
Derna and other places in Libya.
Italian fighters were credited with
shooting down five British planes
and German fighters were said to
have destroyed two more.
Five other British planes were
reported forced down.
Sparring for Position.
The British communique in Cairo
indicated that action in Libya con-
sisted for the most part of patrols
and localized skirmishes. Both the
British and German forces were
reported sparring for position and
reorganizing battle-scarred forces
/ preliminary to a major new test of
strength.
The British command disclosed,
however, that the Axis powers were
attempting to supply their ad-
vanced forces near the Egyptian
Libyan frontier by sea.
One small vessel which attempted
to slip through the British naval
Gordon and carry supplies to be-
leaguered Axis forces in the Salum-
Halfaya sector was officially re-
ported intercepted and driven of
before reaching its destination.
Prisoners captured in Libya dur
ing the recent heavy fighting are
continuing to arrive in Egypt, the
communique declared. and said thai
among the captives was a senior
staff offlcer of the German African
army.
Seven thousand Axis prisoners
many of them German flyers, ar
rived AT Alexandria today and were
transferred to internment camps
They arrived on warships, in trucl
conveys and aboard 14-coacf
train.
Positions Interlocked.
The success of the Germans il
cutting through the Tobruk corri
dor and reuniting their 18th an,
2lst armored divisions left the op
posing armies occupying interlock
ing positions and confused the sit
uation in the strange, swiftly shift
ing campaign whose outcome still
apparently is far from certain.
Military dispatches indicated tina
the front was far from stable, Will
fighting in many isolated places il
the triangle formed by Rezegh. Bi
El Hamed and zaarran, southeas
= Of Tobruk.