Evening star., 1941-11-24
New Nazi Advance Puts Moscow
In Most Serious Danger Of War;
British Claim Key Libyan Point
Great Battle Of
Tanks Raging
Near Tobruk
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CAIRO. Egypt, Nov. 24.--Brit-
ish forces smashing westward
along the Libyan Mediterranean
coast have captured the impor-
tant Axis supply center of Gam
but, approximately half way to
the beSieged British garrison at
TObruk. the British Middle East
announced today.
The extreme British left wing
has swept westward a total of
more than 200 miles since the be-
ginning OF the Libyan invasion,
Axis sources themselves disclosed.
tThis deep penetration for the
SoutneTnmOst imperial column,
which sprang originally from
about Giarabub, was disclosed
in an Italian communique con-
ceding the fall of an Italian gar
rison north Of Gialo Oasis. The
British in this area, II appeared,
were beating on toward the Gulf
of Sirte. we'll below the major
Axis port OF Bengasi.
Thus it seemed that a grand
maneuyer of encirclement was
developing III the south, while
more spectacular battles ragged
for control of the Mediterranean
hinterlandD
Seizure of Gsmbus announced or
the seventh day of the invasion OF
Axis Libya. followed the capture OF
Bardia. a move by which the British
reached the Mediterranean to trap
strong Axis forces under Gen. Erwin
Rommel entrenched along the Egyp-
tian-Libyan border. An unofficial
report said $1,000 Axis prisoners
were taken up TO yesterday.
"A German military spokes-
man in Berlin and officials in
Rome denied Bardia had fallen
to the British and said the Ger
mans and Italians had taken the
initiativeD
Four Isolated Groups.
The British said that altogether
the Axis armies had been battered
into four separate isolated groups
with the Empire forces closing in te
annihilate them.
The British forces which brok'
through the Axis siege lines a
Tobruk were reported to have fough
their way to within miles Of then
comrades coming In from the cas-
and south.
The main battle-pictured as
great clash of the worlds mos
modern tanks and mechanlzec
equipment, with American-mads
machines playing major role
ragged in the vicinity of Sidi Rezegh
10 miles southeast Of Tobruk,
This battle" the British com
munique today said, which ha
been fought and is being fought will
utmost resolution by both sides. ha
been in progress without cessation
for over 48 hours
Overhead British planes bombed
and machine-gunned the Axi
forces.
The Germans were rushing rein
forcements to their air force ant
a British spokesman acknowledged
that the air opposition in Liby'
was increasing. He added, how
ever, that the Axis strength va
being concentrated in the back area
rather than on the battlefield.
About Effort.
Both sides appeared to be put
ting an all-out effort into the BIZ
tank battle and losses were heav,
for each.
These losses steadily cut dow
the number of tanks taking par
since reinforcements were no
matching destruction.
Both sides flung infantry force
into the Sidi Rezegh battle witt
great Jury ana nanQ-tO-hand nent
ing developed at many points, Brit
ish military sources said.
Loss of Gambut by the German
was said to be likely to hampe
gravely the Axis supply lines.
The British infantry rushing int
the Sidi Rezegh battle as the tan
strength declined consisted of Eng
lish, South African and New Zea
land regiments, the spokesman sale
These forces, he continued, wer
clashing with the Axis troops ou
in the open. without trenches an
with only whatever cover nature af
forded. and it was probable ths
bayonet fighting was on "consid
erable" scale.