GREATLY IMPROVED

Evening Star, Issue 23861, 16 April 1941, Page 7

GREATLY IMPROVED

SITUATION IN LIBYA GERMAN ADVANCE SLOWED DOWN ANZACS IN STRONG DEFENSIVE POSITIONS Press Association —By Telegraph Copyright LONDON, April 15. (Received April 10, at 1.50 p.m. The military situation in Libya has greatly improved in the last two or three days,” says the Cairo correspondent of ‘ The *'JT l ®® - “ Not only has the impetus of the German advance slowed down perceptibly as natural obstacles to lengthy desert advances niade themselves felt, but the British forces left in Libya when the Italians disappeared have been considerably reinforced. New Zealanders, Australians, British, and Indian troops have taken up strong defensive positions in Egypt. Around Alexandria are contingents of Free Poles and Czechoslovakians. Apparently the British hold lower Solium. “ Evidence of the forced slow down is supplied by the number of German prisoners who surrendered with their vehicles. They wore in the last stages of exhaustion and unable to continue driving. They had been foodless and waterless for two days. With the , IR.A.E. completely superior and continually bombing German supply columns the cohesion between the forward units is becoming ragged. The Germans passed by Tobruk in the belief that the 'British garrison would be content to remain behind strong fortifications, but small British patrols are making continual sorties from Tobruk nightly, capturing numbers of Germans and pricking the left flank columns advancing to the Egyptian border. As the result of this irritation tiie Gormans twice attacked the fortress yesterday, but were flung back with heavy losses. “ Air supremacy is likely to prove a decisive factor, and a steady stream of planes is reaching Egypt, where there are high hopes that large numbers of American aircraft will shortly arrive via the newly-opened Red Sea route. “ The German commander is reported to have about 1,600 tanks and a corresponding number of other vehicles. General Wavell’s problem therefore continues to be the reconstruction of a sufficient force about Mcrsa Matruh to meet the strong and swift German tank sweep into the deep defence positions from Mersa Matruh towards the Nile Delta. These are considered to be efficient, but the experts would prefer more tanks to defence positions. They point out that only tanks can match the challenging mobile desert forces.” The ' Daily Mail ’ suggests that the Germans are using the coastal defences of the French Protectorate of Tunisia to get their forces into Libya, and points out that Admiral Darlan must have agreed to this move. It says Britain cannot afford to handle Darlan with kid gloves, especially as he appears to be encouraging fifth columnists in Syria. SUCCESSFUL ACTION COUNTER-ATTACK AT TOBRUK GERMAN ATTEMPT TO PENETRATE DEFENCES FAILS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 15. (Received April 16, at 9.25 a.m.) The newspapers give full value to the spectacular effect produced by the rapid German advance through Cyrenaica, though it is pointed out that the Germans so far nave met with no serious resistance by the deliberate choice of the British command, and that action by the British forces ha's been confined to delaying and harassing the German movements. At the same time the repulse of the German attempt to penetrate the defences of Tobruk, which their advanced patrols passed on the way to Solium, gave satisfaction to public opinion here, and this is increased by the authoritative news that between 200 and 300 German prisoners were taken in a successful British counterattack. It is also stated that 12 enemy aircraft were brought down in an air raid on Tobruk. ABYSSINIAN ADVANCE CONTINUES SOUTH AFRICANS OH ROAD TO JIMMA (British Official Wireless.) A Middle East communique states; •“ In Libya, in the repulse of the German attack on Tobruk yesterday, about 200 German prisoners were taken. Over 100 enemy dead wore counted. At least 15 enemy tanks were destroyed. Our losses were eight. In the Solium area we inflicted losses on the enemy by patrol and artillery action. “ The British advance in Abyssinia has been resumed towards Dessic, while in the southern areas vigorous pursuit of enemy detachments is being continued.” A Nairobi communique states; ‘‘On the road to Jitnma our troops have reached the river Omo, 160 miles southwest of Addis Ababa. Having bridged tho river Awash, a column, moving south from llama, occupied Asselle without opposition. Large quantities of material were taken at Addis Ababa. Including surveying equipment valued at £IO,OOO. BRITAIN AND EGYPT COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING CAIRO, April 15. (Received April 16, at 11.25 a.ra.) After the Chamber of Deputies heard a statement regarding the military situation in the Western Desert a communique was issued stating; “ The present conditions cause no concern. There is complete understanding between the Government and Britain.”