“BETTER THAN EXPECTED”

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23495, 25 November 1941, Page 7

“BETTER THAN EXPECTED”

BRITISH PROGRESS IN LIBYA SURE DEVELOPMENT OF PINCERS MOVEMENT (8.0. W.) RUGBY, November 23. A special correspondent with the Bth Army in the Western Desert writes that the latest information reaching advanced headquarters indicates that the battle is not settled yet. It may last several days, but is going better than expected. Following Saturday’s sacrifice of tanks, the Germans have lost the chief support of their panzer divisions. A useful indication is that 60 German tanks in one place held their position,, which seems to point to a shortage of petrol. Early on Sunday morning the Tobruk garrison, which had orders yesterday to return to the edge of the perimeter, made a successful sortie in a south-westerly direction. In the meantime, the New Zealanders resumed, on Sunday morning, their march westwards, supported by tanks. Two panzer divisions are making a desperate attempt south of Tobruk and west of Fort Capuzzo to escape. Slowly but surely _ the coming pincers movement is being carried out by three English armoured brigades backed by English, New Zealand, and South African brigades. Under cover of shells and constant bombing by all classes of aircraft, the Germans are attempting to cut a wedge towards *the Derna mountains, which would permit organised defence, and where even the Italians checked the Australian advance towards Benghazi last year. Three English brigades, one of which is much faster than the German panzers, are closing up, and numerous rearguard actions took place yesterday, in which the Germans lost many more tanks. The distances are so big, however, that it would be premature to think the i Italians and Germans cannot escape. Under cover of darkness, or even in daytime, they might’ find a hole in the net, through which a number may slip out. but authorities say there is no doubt a good proportion of the enemy will be caught. It is authoritatively Stated in Cairo that the enemy is completely cut off in the Halfaya-Sollum area. A military spokesman in Cairo said that the battle in Libya was going at full blast. “It is too early to tell what course the battle would finally take—whether von Rommel will fight to the finish where he is. or try to get out of the ring.’’ he said. "The culmination of the battle apparently is imminent, but it may go on to-day and to-morrow. It is getting more and more intense. A bitter, confused, and crucial battle has been going on all night and day in the Sidi Rezegh area. This is no cake-walk. The German armoured forces are fighting desperately, giving battle everywhere. It is false to suppose that the Germans are at present fighting a battle of retreat.”