The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-05-29
British, American
Built Planes Battle
Continued from Page u

Continued
west of the British Coastal strong
hold Of Tobruk, the Germans press
ed advanced forces eastward to the
Ed Duda -Sidi Rezegh zone, about
Is miles southeast Of Tobruk.
These were repulsed, and the Ger
mans Joined two columns at a des-
ert trail crossroads, about 20 miles
southwest Of Tobruk.
Here, the communique said, the
combined enemy force engaged
British armored forces for test Of
strength which Gen. Erwin Rommel,
the German commander In chief,
was believed to have sought.
On the result Of this fight, 1t was
indicated, might depend Rommel's
strategy and tactics in his new drive
eastward for the fifth great Libyan
campaign.
Under Burning Sum
The British and German forces
were fighting, In dust and haze un-
der q burning desert sun, at a re-
mote camel trail junction which
British troops have called Knights
bridge, for the artery and shopping
center in the west end Of London.
It Is about IL miles south of Acroma,
which in turn Is 10 miles west Of
Tobruk and about 10 miles In from
the coast.
Enemy forces which hit the Brit
ish line south Of FL Adem, in the
desert, were repulsed and British
armored units, penetrating behind
the enemy front lines, started a
heavy attack on Axis supply col
llrnnS.
Royal Air Force planes, many Of
them American Douglas bombers
and Curtiss Kittyhawk fighters,
joined in support Of the ground
forces, bombing and machine gun
ming enemy tanks and supply trucks
as they moved in the haze and dust
clouds across the desert.
Fighting over $500 square miles Of
desert from the coast southwark Of
the Biz Hacheim Wells was described
as q confused dog fight, on the
ground ard In the air, with armored
forces Of both sides so mixed that
sometimes the planes could not tell
them apart.
Military quarters believed that the
German command hoped to Isolate,
and take If he could, the British
coastal stronghold Of Tobruk, which
had held out for months In earlier
campaigns against Axis siege and
attack.
It was said, however, that 1t prob
ably would be impossible to tell Tor
another day at least where the Ger
mans were really heading or what
actual success they had had.
The middle eastern command
communique indicated that while
the Germans had penetrated the
British line they had not taken any
point.
The entire front was saw
toothed one with the Germans east
of the British line at some points
and the British miles into the Ger
man attack zone at others.
Our COmmunique
The middle eastern command
communique said:
Heavy fighting continued through
out yesterday. OF two enemy col
umns which moved northeast Of Biz
Hacheim, one was directed on the
9th to Ell Adem but failed to reach
Its objective, although small adj
vanced elements which an avoided
engagement got as far as Ed Duda
and Sidi Rezegh.
''TheSe elements were driven of
by or armored forces. Later this
column joined forces with the other
in the neighborhood of the Knights
Bridge Track Center about IL miles
south Of Arcoma. The combined
enemy forces here were engaged by
our armored forces.
IAN enemy attack south Of Ell
Adem was broken up by our forces.
"Our armored units made success
full attacks on enemy supply col
umns south of FL Adem.
THE Royal Air Force continued
maximum support of our land forces
intercepted enemy air attacks and
did considerable damage among
enemy vehicles"
The confusion of the fighting was
shown by the fact that the British
held FL Gazala, on the coast SIS
miles northwest of the Ed Udda-
Sid Rezegh sector and 40 miles west
of TObruk.
The British held their important
Biz Hacheim base, containing the
only water in the area, while the
Germans were In force far north
east OF 1t.
ArmOred Forces To Death
It was indicated that the strength
Of the opposing arnored forces
would decide the issue, and deter
mine whether the Germans would
press their drive.
To succeed, they must smash the
British tank forces; If they lost
heavily In trying unsuccessfulIy to
do 1t they would be in serious po-
sition themselves.
Dispatches asserted that the Brit
ish held one great advantage be-
cause the Royal Air Force, aided by
American-made planes. had seized
the initiative and had seriously dis
rupted enemy supply columns.
Strong fleets o. planes. including
many light, fast Douglas Boston
bonbers and Curtiss Kittyhawk
fighters, roanled over the tank