Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-11-24 | Page 2 | U. S.-Built Tanks and Airplanes Win Spurs in Libya Battle

U. U S.-Built S. Tanks and Airplanes Win Spurs in Libya Battle By VIRGIL M. M PINKLEY BRITISH ADVANCED BATTLE HEADQUARTERS INTHE IN INTHE INTHE THE WESTERN DESERT Nov 24 UP The UP-The The report of British fighting men on Americas America's weapons after six days of searing battle battle bat bat- tle against tle-against against the best fighting ma machines ines the axis produces is U. U S. S tanks tanks My My gosh they pack a wallop U. U S. S planes Worth planes Worth their weight in gold An incomplete checkup showed that American tanks already have given the knockout blow to at least 60 axis tanks The British are deploying the light fast maneuverable American Ameri Amen can fighting m machines c ines in m much h th the manner that th they y utilize destroyers and cruisers in a nav naval l action With American machines the British British Brit Brit- British ish can scurry around the axis tanks round them up and then slash in to deliver quick stinging death blows The speed of the American tanks is such that the British frequently have been able to flank the German machines and box them in One-Fourth One From U. U S. S About one-fourth one of the armored force being employed by Britain's Eighth army i isi id American Americ built n-built Most of the motorized transport comes from the United States or Canada The American tanks are M 3 models ton 13 light machines They are manned by Scottish English English English Eng Eng- lish and Welsh crews On one occasion the American machines saved the day when a aGerman aGerman aGerman German tank division attacked a British brigade hoping to roll it back and get on the flanks of two other British armored brigades Had the German plan succeeded it would have held up the British advance cut the German losses from air attacks and bogged down the through follow-through attacks of British British Brit Brit- ish sh infantry I asked a tank crew how they liked their American machines They are sweet to handle the leader eader said They may be small but ut they pack a wallop The success of the U. U S. S machines machines machines ma ma- chines in their first action has resulted resulted resulted re re- in British authorities re requesting requesting requesting re- re questing more on a rush basis fur for future battles U. U S. S Planes Precious The story on American planes is s the same Air Vice Marshal Arthur ConIngham Coningham Con- Con ingham commander of royal air force units in the battle said Our Tomahawks are worth their weight in n gold Coningham had only one request to make of American industry industry to to produce and speed to the middle east more planes planes particularly particularly Tomahawks Douglas B Boston o 0 s t ton o n bombers and Martin Maryland and Baltimore bombers The have done splendidly splendidly splendidly he says Their bombing has caused great damage to the enemy The are about the fastest thing in their line I only wish we had more Tomahawks Asked why the Germans have not employed their famous bombers to dive-bomb dive the British armored forces Coningham said because of the Tomahawks Tomahawks they they do donot not dare to send them up as long longas as the Tomahawks are about He doubted that the Germans have yet run short of gasoline but said he believed the Italians are short and their good friends the Germans are not sharing theirs The reinforcement of the nazi in Africa is already apparent apparent apparent ap ap- ap- ap parent with the crack Messer- Messer schmitt giving battle to British fighters for the first time