SETBACK IN LIBYA

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 June 1942, Page 5

SETBACK IN LIBYA

FURTHER AXIS PROGRESS FIERCE ATTACK REPULSED LONDON, June 17. , In Libya, according to to-day s Cairo communique, there are indications that an enemy thrust towards Tobruk Irom the east, by way ol bicli Rezegh, .has been repulsed. The communique says: Our iorces yesterday broke up an attack oy enemy armoured iorces on our positions at Sidi Rezegh. Enemy attacks throughout the day at Acroma were reoulsed. An enemy force wnic formed up opposite El Adem failed to attack.” , . , The enemy force which was iepulsed at Sidi Fezegh had passed E Adem, going east in the direction ol Sidi Rezegh. It then turned north towards Ed Duda, which is 15 miles south-east of Tobruk. The way in which operations arc takin to shape indicates that a lull-scale attack directed at the capture ol lobiuk s developing. Enemy forces arc now massed in the El Adem-Acioma aica. Behind the area occupied by the. Btn Army the enemy has now fercatei freedom of movement to bring stiong armoured forces against any pom which he considers may be weak. Air operations, which were hampered by storms at the week-end, are being continued, and bornbeis and fighters arc giving the enemy no respite Transport and lorry-borne infantry are being bombed and machine-gunned The Roya Air Force is particularly active in the Sidi Rezegh area. The 8.8. C. observer, Mr. Richard Dimbieby, says that all the British forces were brought safely away from El Gazala and are now in a position to withstand a strong enemy attack on Acroma. Already tnc enemy has been driven back wita losses to his tanks. The enemy s failure was even more outstanding, as he was using tanks supported by artillery and infantry. He was given a good hammering and withdrew m confusion. ; Mr. Dimbieby says that British attacks on the two German panzer divisions must be expected soon. He adds that Axis infantry are digging themselves in in the north, while their tanks are moving about behind them. The British forces arc settling down south of Acroma.

TOBRUK NEXT AIM

RUGBY, June 17. While it is acknowledged in London that the armoured forces of the Eighth Army suffered reverses, there is thankfulness that it survived the critical weeks which might have brought the enemy more success than he actually gained. Although no doubt is felt that further critical days are still ahead, there is equally no doubt that the enemy’s second attempt to annihilate part ol the British forces failed. Summing up the latest phase of the battle, the “Manchester Guardian says: Rommel will now tackle robruk, perhaps by frontal assault, combined with another sweep towards the sea, east of the El Adem cutting the road, which feeds our army and Tobruk from the east. Each side has long communications, so that the most profitable line of attack is always an outflanking thrust irom south to north. Against them, we have successfully exploited it twice, and the Axis once. There can be no surprise about it, but also there seems to be no certain answer to a tank axtack, even when is is expected.

“VERY SERIOUS REVERSE” (Recd. 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, June 17. The seriousness of the situation in Libya is emphasised in the London newspapers. It is undeniable that we have suffered a very serious reverse, says the “Telegraph’s” military correspondent. It is doubtful whether we can maintain any defensive position west of Solium. Whether we shall attempt to hold Tobruk, as an isolated outpost, remains to be seen, and probably we shall decide not to do so. The Times’s military critic describes the situation as ugly. The Express’s military correspondents says that something has gone wrong, Rommel has made dangerous gains. More British reverses are inevitable. Factors which seem to account for this, at least temporary turn of the tide, are firstly, air superiority was wrested from the R.A.F. Secondly, Rommel’s preponderance ol heavy tanks. Thirdly, Rommel s many 88 millimetre guns, which are heavier than any field piece we possess. These factors gave Rommel superior firepower, which he kept concealed until able to exploit it to the maximum by surprise. We must hope that Rommel so dissipates his strength that no further advance will be possible this summer.. The fact remains however, that this battle is no longer on equal terms. R.A.F. ATTACK TANKS. RUGBY, June 17. In Libya, .the R.A.F. made attacks on a Panzer column which has thrust pastwards in the Sidi Rezegh area. It is learned that the column was severely harassed on Tuesday by lighter bombers, which destroyed ten of thirty German tanks engaged in this operation. More than 500 sorties have been flown in Libya on several days recently. AXIS BETTER EQUIPMENT. (Recd. 2.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 17. The threat to Tobruk is developing in three main directions, —the regions of Sidi Rezegh, El Adem and Acroma. Fighting is going on, on a thirty-mile front, but is less intense tharf at the week-end. The developments in the next few days are likely to depend on who has the best reinforced front-line troops. Rommel appears to have large reserves, ana is 1 reported to be bringing up infantry and artillery, with the aim of breaching the line. The Italo-Germans are reported to be massing at El Adem. The Daily Mail says: Rommel is reported to have been reinforced by a new air fleet and two fresh panzer divisions. .. The “Telegraph s military writei says: Enemy mobiles are trying to manoeuvre round our east flank to sever communications with Egypt, and envelop Tobruk. It is possible that before long we will be back at Solium, the position wherefrom we started out last November, in such high hopes. . . The “Standard’s” Cairo coriespondent says: Although Rommel tailed to reach the Gazala line quickly enough to trap the South Africans and the Fiftieth British Division, we were obliged to leave the desert Maginot Line, which was never really used. The delaying and construction work on the Gazala escarpment, extending over four months, was all wasted. , ~ , “The Times” in a leading article declares: The scales in Libya have tipped decidedly in the enemy s favour. In consequence, an undeniable reverse has already been suffered. General Ritchie’s once promising chance of passing from defence to attack has dwindled out of sight. The Axis success is primarily due once again to superiority in tanks and

guns. The quality of the Eighth Army has long been proved, but it is opposed to equally well-tried veterans in desert warfare. In those circumstances, the more effective equipment prevails. Not all the Axis weapons are better than the British, but at a higher level of up-to-date equipment, they have advantages both in quality and numbers. The “General Grants” and six-pounder anti-tank guns abundantly proved their value, although it is not clear that either was available in adequate numbers. The enemy has not stood still. The German markfour tank wherewith the Panzers were lavishly supplied, dominated the battlefield. ENEMY LOSSES AT MALTA. LONDON, June 17. In the 24 hours ended on Monday night the Malta defender? shot down 10 bombers and five other aeroplanes. Another enemy aircraft was shot down on Tuesday afternoon.