ROMMEL'S MOVE?

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 42, 19 February 1942, Page 7

ROMMEL'S MOVE?

LONDON SPECULATION

WITHDRAWAL NEAR GAZALA

(Rec. noon.) RUGBY, Feb. 18. The withdrawal of General Rommel and his strong forces.to points roughly 15 to 20 miles west of Gazala, announced recently, is the subject of keen speculation among military experts in London. Three alternative reasons are suggested:—. 1. That he came forward intending to attack but found the Imperial forces stronger than he anticipated, and withdrew. 2. That he never intended to attack, but came forward to see where th« Imperial forces were. This is regarded as a less likely alternative in view oi the strength of the forces General Rommel moved forward.

3. That he came forward intending to attack, and then, owing to the successful British air offensive, found himself deprived of more of his air power than he liked, and may have decided that withbut that air strength he was not prepared to attack. The successful British air attack on planes which were attacking our columns is seen incidentally as evidence of the very high standard of cooperation existing between the Army and the R.A.F. in Libya.

A Middle East war communique states: "Our fighting patrols and mobile columns, protected by fighter sweeps, again operated over a wide area south of the general line between Timinii and Mekili without encountering any opposition."—B.O.W.