The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-24

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 "The Marylands have done Splen- dldly," he said. "Thelr bombing has caused great damage to the enemy The Bostons are about the fastest thing In their line. I only wish VIC had more Tomahawks,"
 Cunningham said the RAT ruled the air over the battlefield though the Germans were rushing rein- forcements from Italy, Crete and Tripoli. However, he asserted that the intense effort by the Germans to bring in additional ground forces with fleets of 52 transports and glider fleets "is not e factor to be ignored"
 Asked why the Germans have not employed their famous stukR honlb- CTS to dive-bomb the British arIn- ored forces, Cunningham said "he- cause of the Tomahawks. They do not dare to send them up as long as the tomahawks are about"
 Battles Aid Russia
 Cunningham expressed belief that the British offensive is aiding Rus sia by directing German energy and supplies from the eastern front, "The italians themselves" he said "broadcast that there is just one battle front which extends from northern Russia to Libya."
 He doubted that the Germans have yet run short of gasoline but said he believed the Italians are short land their good friends, the Germans are not sharing theirs"
 The reinforcement of the Nazl luftwaffe in Africa Is already ap- parent with the crack Messer- schmitt's giving battle to British fighters for the first time. However the RAF met the challenge by in- creasing the temper of ite bombing and strafing attacks by fighters.
 From daylight to sunset, British fighter squadrons i'll the air, attack ing German ground clements for protecting British bombers squad- rons in their attacks upon the enemy rear communications lines.
 Italy Claims Victory
 Rome, Nov. 24 = (U.P) = The high command claimed today that the British fourth armored brigade has been destroyed" in North Africa and that It's commander General Sperling," has been taken prisoner.
 The high command admitted that a British motorized columns, ap' parently moving due west iron Giarahub oasis, has reached ane overwhelmed an Italian garrison 20( miles to the west, north of GialC oasis. This places the British slightly west and nearly 300 miles south of Derna.
 Tt would appear that the British column is streaking across the oper desert in an attempt to reach the Mediterranean coast between E Agheila and Benfihabi.
 The communique claimed that the action occurred west of So- lum" in very heavy fighting.
 The high command claimed thC destruction of 50 British tanks ane asserted British attempts to issue from Tohruk had been repulsed witt very heavy loss of life.
 The Italian Savona division, saic the communique, is engaged in bit ter fighting on the Solum front ane has carried out a series of counter attacks for the past two days with forces supported by artillery anc aviation.
 In the solum fight, said the higt command, many British motorized units were wiped out.
 Second Phase Opens
 London, Nov. 24.-(UP)-A Sri. tish authoritative source said today that the second phase of the battle of Libya has opened-characterizec by "very hard, very confused fight ing"
 The source said that the British army faces e resolute enemy wht is fighting desperately under ef' fective command.
 "It Is a little early to estimate the result of the second phase O the battle," the source said. How ever, 1t is well advanced"
 The source said the German strategic and supply situation" II Africa Is mot at all good" and tha British control of the air over tn, fighting front is being maintained.
 '"rhe first phase of the Libyal battle went extremely we'll" tn, source said, "the objective being [, get our forward armored formation. to designated points for launchinl a movement against the frontirede lenses.
 We are now in phase two whicl continues as a dog fight with tn, objective the defeat of the enem. forces encircled In phase one."
 New Zealanders
 Cairo, Nov. 24.-(UP)-Britisl general headquarters reported toda, that New Zealand forces have cap tured Gamut, Libyan coastal towl west of Bardia.
 Gamut is about 35 miles of Bar dia, almost halfway between Bardii and Tobruk.
 One of the foNr groups into whicl Axis forces had been split by tn British attack was in the Gamu area.
 The middle east command re ported that the great battle 0 British and German armored force in the Rezegh area has been ii progress for 48 hours without ceSsa ton.
 Indian troops" said the com munique, continue their operation near the enemy defensive position in the Halfaya and Sidi Omar area.
 British forces from Tobruk, saiC the communique, have captured number of German field guns ana are consolidating the ground whicl they have won.