APPROACH TO BENGHAZI

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23799, 19 November 1942, Page 5

APPROACH TO BENGHAZI

Bth Army’s Advance RAPID PROGRESS MADE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (' To-day’s Cairo communique states: “Troops of the Bth Army pursuing the enemy on a wide front were 70 miles from Benghazi yesterday. “On Monday night Allied bombers made a successful lowlevel attack on barges in Benghazi harbour, causing some fires. Six enemy transport aircraft were shot down by our fighters, and at least six others were destroyed on the ground. All our aircraft are safe.” The nearest point to Benghazi mentioned in yesterday’s news was Mekili. To-day s communique indicates a progress of 60 miles in 24 hours. Correspondents say there have been no battles for some days and very little enemy opposition generally.

Discussing the speed of the British advance, the correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that up to the occupation of Derna and Mekili the Bth Army had covered nearly 400 miles in a fortnight. "This rate of advance has not been equalled in any previous campaign in this theatre of war.” the correspondent states. “Such rapid progress is a tribute to the skilful organisation of supply, which is the nightmare of generals in desert warfare. “Some pause in the advance will probably be essential after the next stage is completed, but at present there are no signs of a halt. The Axis forces in the last few days may have got in some reinforcements, including a few tanks, but the enemy is believed to have insufficient tanks to enable him to fight back before Benghazi. It is more probable that Marshal Rommel’s army will utilise the long-prepared defensive positions at El Agheila. The enemy's morale and strength cannot be determined before he makes a ttand.” The,Bth Army driving along the coast road has apparently split to complete the conquest of the Libyan bulge. This two-pronged drive is indicated by the news that Allied forces have occupied Derna and Mekili. “The further west the enemy goes the harder it will be for us to deliver a knock-out blow to Rommel’s forces,” states the Cairo correspondent of the National Broadcasting Corporation. “There are signs that Rommel is going to fight again. The bulk of his army has gone along the coast road, and the chances are that Rommel will pick up extra supplies and equipment at Benghazi from ships which have been coming in there during the last week. Rommel will try to make a stand with the hope of holding us up for the longest possible period. "The Germans are going to give us a fight for our money before we close the gap between the Bth Army and the forces moving into Tunisia.” The Bth Army has covered more than 400 miles in a fortnight, and this

immensely rapid movement involves a considerable effort in getting up supplies adequate, not only for the maintenance of the Army, but the continuance of the pursuit over further vast distances. Although Tobruk is in British hands, it has been so damaged by Royal Air Force bombers that some time will elapse before it can be of much service as a supply port for the Army. Since the battle of Alamein the enemy has evidently concentrated all his efforts on getting away as fast and far as possible. For this purpose the 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 him, is keeping in touch. In these circumstances it does not appear that there are any enemy forces in Cyrenaica that can be called a main body. The troops seem to be strung out along all the roads and tracks leading westward between Jebel Akhdar and the Gulf of Sirte.