WRECKED VEHICLES

Evening Star, Issue 24409, 22 January 1943, Page 3

WRECKED VEHICLES

TBIPQLI-ZUARA ROAD A SHAMBLES OCCUPATION OF HOMS AND TARHUNA LONDON, January 21. # It.A.F. airmen returning to their bases after non-stop bombing of Rommel's fleeing eoliimns described the 50mile stretch of roadway between Tripoli and Zuara as a shambles of wrecked vehicles. At one point a milelong line of traffic was bombed until the vehicles were piled up in a hopeless jam ; completely blocking the road. Allied airmen report huge tires in Tripoli and intermittent explosions in the dock area.

The Eighth Army, now in rapid pursuit of (Rommel's forces, yesterday occupied Horns and'Tarhuna, and maintained close contact with the enemy. Announcing this, the latest Middle East communique states that the capture of Homs yesterday brought the right Hank of the Eighth Army to within 65 miles of Tripoli, while the occupation of Tarhuna meant that the, forces in that area were within 40 miles of the capital. The Cairo correspondent of Reuter's Agency points out that the Eighth Army 'is rolling up the map so rapidly that' Rommel is running short of his most precious weapon—namely, time. The weight of men and'material General Montgomery is throwing in threatens to disrupt the Axis rearguards before Rommel is able to organise his next move, whether it is resistance or escape. In spite of reports that Axis troops are embarking at Tripoli, the Morocco radio to-night declares that part of Rommel's forces have already been seen well to the west of Tripoli, moving rapidly to Tunisia. The correspondent says: " This indicates that Rommel may be taking the only alternative to complete sea evacuation—namely, to force his way through by land to Tunisia. Either course Rbmmel takes will be studded with difficulties. He is confined to four main tracks radiating from Tripoli, and the R.A.F., leap-frogging to forward aerodromes as they relinquished hammering the fleeing columns, are blasting Tripoli's harbour and the aerodrome at Castel Benito."

The Eighth Army's advanced units throughout the day yesterday maintained contact with Rommel's rearguards, although the ground at present is brdken and hilly. Our left flank is already penetrating the Jebel region and near'ing an escarpment from which the plains drop down to Tripoli, inviting fast progress.