In the Sidi Rezegh area, south-east of Tobruk, little seems to be left but scattered groups of Germans and Italians cut off from their supplies. These are being rapidly mopped up by special highly mobile British columns. Harassed by our tanks and light armoured units, the German armoured divisions on Friday began to move from the positions which they had held south-east of Tobruk towards a line from El Adem to Bir-el-Gubi. Here they were afforded some protection by well-dug-in Italian forces, supported by German "positional troops." The two divisions are now at Bir-el-Gubi, where they are being assaulted by British tanks and Indian infantry. Near Acroma, some 12 miles west of Tobruk, Maryland bombers are following up last night's extremely successful raid on a huge mass of German and Italian transport. The vehicles are spread out apparently haphazard along 12 miles of road. Today's G.H.Q. communiqué says:
"In an action some four miles east of Bir-el-Gubi an enemy column of about 100 vehicles and two tanks was engaged by South African troops, one tank begin knocked out, transport dispersed, and the column forced to withdraw. Two other actions in this general area were still in progress when the latest reports reached Cairo. In one of them enemy infantry had attacked British and Indian troops north of Bir-el-Gubi and we had counter-attacked." Fighting had continued in the moonlight. Farther north again armoured forces of both sides were reported to have joined battle about midday yesterday. Reports of progress of this engagement are not yet to hand, although there are indications that our armoured forces have met with some success."

Seized Dumps

"During these engagements in the Bir-el-Gubi area air forces bombed the enemy forces while they were refuelling, obtaining many direct hits. South-east of Tobruk British patrols penetrated several miles south of Ed Duda without encountering any opposition. These patrols destroyed 15 enemy vehicles and two field guns, and captured three German anti-tank guns and 25 German prisoners. A little farther east, in the Sidi Rezegh area, South African troops engaged in mopping up operations captured supplies and petrol dumps, removed or destroyed the petrol, and burned 62 enemy motor vehicles and two aircraft. The vigorous offensive operations of our mobile columns of all arms continued throughout the whole area. As a result, apart from a few isolated pockets, very few enemy remained between Tobruk and the frontier. Among the losses inflicted by these mobile columns during Saturday are the destruction of 23 Italian tanks and a complete Italian battery."
The communiqué adds that particularly effective results were obtained by the Air Force in the El Adem area, where enemy motor vehicle concentrations were repeatedly attacked, and where bombs fell among a group of tank transporters which were being loaded with enemy tanks.

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