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El Duda remained in the hands of the Tobruk Garrison and the troops south of the breach were temporarily withdrawn southward to the line of the Trigh El Abd to reorganise.
30. The 2nd December and the following night were devoted to reorgani, sation and redisposition of forces on both sides. While our tired troops were being replaced by reserves, enemy M.T. columns were reported to be moving southward towards El Gobi and eastward along the Trigh Capuzzo. The enemy on the Trigh Capuzzo were being harassed by our mobile columns while patrols had been pushed westward from our formations about Capuzzo and Bardia. Summary.
31. It is impossible to give anything in the way of a firm estimate of the opposing tank forces remaining in the field. Returns of the strengths of our own units and of vehicles recovered have not yet been collated, while reports of the enemy's casualties and strengths in the various engagements have been made in the heat of battle and cannot be regarded as accurate.
At the time of writing, the opposing forces have fallen apart without a decision having been reached.
The enemy was evidently surprised by our preliminary moves and General Rommel's armoured forces have been brought to battle and a great part of them destroyed. On the other hand, the fighting has been bitter and casualties heavy and the enemy has been able to cover the Tobruk corridor and reconcentrate those parts of the two German armoured divisions which have survived the first fourteen days of the campaign.
East Africa.
The Gondar Operations.
32. After the surrender of General Gazzera and the enemy forces in the Galla Sidamo province of Southern Abyssinia on the 4th July, Italian resistance was confined to the Gondar area just north of Lake Tana. The Italians had spent time and material strengthening the naturally formidable position of Gondar, which is situated in mountainous country, well adapted for defence. Moreover, the few roads leading to the area could not carry during the rainy season the traffic required for the maintenance of an attacking force of any size.
For these reasons the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, whose command at that time included East Africa, decided to contain the enemy with a small force until September, when the rains would have ceased and the roads again have become usable.
33. The troops allotted for the purpose consisted of—
1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders,
3/14 Punjab Regiment,
A Sudan Defence Force detachment, and
Ethiopian patriots.
This small force fulfilled its rôle with conspicuous success up to the 22nd September, when the 25th East African Brigade arrived from Massawa, and operations on a larger scale began.
Italian Forces and Dispositions.
34. The Italian forces in the Gondar area, which comprised the triangle Wolchefit Kulkaber Chelga, were estimated at 19,000 Italian and native troops and 76 guns. They were commanded by General Nasi.
These forces were disposed as follows:---
Wolchefit area (30 miles north of Gondar): 3,000 rifles and 19 guns. Wolaich area (10 miles north of Gondar): 2,200 rifles and 5 guns.
Immediately south of Gondar: 3,100 rifles and 18 guns.
Feroaber-Kulkaber position (25 miles south-east of Gondar): 1,800 rifles
and 12 guns.
Gorgora area (at the north end of Lake Tana): 1,200 rifles.
Chelga area (25 miles west of Gondar): 3,800 rifles and 22 guns.
By this time the enemy's air force had dwindled to a total of five aircraft, three fighters and two bombers.
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