AT STEADY PACE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 33, 18 November 1942, Page 3

AT STEADY PACE

THE PURSUIT IN CYRENAICA. NO MAIN BODY OF ENEMY. GREAT PROBLEM OF SUPPLIES. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright). (Rec 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 17. The British pursuit of remnants of Marshal . Rommel’s army through central Cyrenaica continues at a steady pace, some 20 or 30 miles daily. The enemy is doing what he can to hinder the advance, by rearguard actions and laying mines in their tracks. Since the battle of El Alamein the enemy has evidently concentrated all his efforts on getting away as far as possible. For this purpose, elements in the rear had to start, early before the pursuit was anywhere near them. Though even so they have not escaped air attacks as they have gone round the Gulf of Sirte. Hitherto the enemy by headlong flight, has been able to keep just clear of the head of the British pursuit, which, though not in immediate contact with them, is keeping * in touch. In these circumstances it does not appear that there are in Cyrenaica, any enemy forces that can be called the main body. The troops seem to be strung out along all the roads and tracks leading westward between Jebelakhdar and the Gulf of Sirte.

The Bth Army Jias covered over 400 miles in a fortnight and this immensely rapid movement involves considerable effort in getting up supplies adequate not only for the maintenance of the army but also for the continuance of the pursuit over further vast distances.

Although Tobruk is in our hands it has been so damaged by our bombers that time will elapse before it can be of much service las a supply port for the army.—British Official Wireless. i DERNA AND MEKILI OCCUPIED. BRITISH ON THE INLAND ROAD. LONDON, November 17.

The communique issued at Cairo today states: “Our troops occupied Derna and Mekili. The Bth Army continues its pursuit of the enemy. Owing to bad flying conditions air activity was on a reduced scale. A Junkers 88 was shot down in the sea off Port Said. We lost one aircraft.”

The official news of. the occupation of Derna. was not unexpected, as earlier reports said the enemy was leaving the town and had blown up tile road in three places. British armoured cars waited on high ground near the town while sappers went forward to clear away enemy mines.

Mekili is one-third of the way from Tmimi to Benghazi by the inland route. The capture of Mekili is the first news that; the British forces are advancing along the inland road as well as along the coast. Correspondents say that if the Bth Army can get to Benghazi quickly enough it may be able to cut off a. large part of the Axis forces.

•According to unconfirmed reports from Rome, Marshal Rommel, Marshal Keitel and General P. Cavallero (Chief of the Italian General Staff) flew there from Tripoli last night, says the Berne correspondent of the “ ‘New York Times.” Marshal Rommel and Marshal Keitel later flew north, after several hours’ conversation with Marshal Goeriug.