AXIS TAKE TOBRUK

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1942, Page 5

AXIS TAKE TOBRUK

ATTACK IN GREAT STRENGTH

BARDIA EVACUATED PREPARATIONS~ON FRONTIER

LONDON, June 21. A new phase of the battle in Libya has opened with a heavy Axis attack on Toburk. To-day’s Cairo communique says: “Yesterday the enemy attacked the perimeter of Tobruk in great strength. In spite of the most determined resistance, the enemy succeeded in penetrating the defences and occupying a considerable area inside. Fighting is continuing. Two hours after the Cairo communique had announced that Tobruk’s defences had been penetrated, a special announcement by the German High Command stated that a great part of the defences had been stormed and that a British officer had come out with a white flag. An Italian communique claims that Axis forces have occupied the town, There i,s no confirmation of these reports in London. In the area between Tobruk and the new British frontier positions, the enemy appears to be proceeding with extreme caution. Two enemy columns turned back to the west when they were 25 miles from Bardia. They were reported last night to be only 10 miles west of Bardia. The British Broadcasting Corporation’s observer in Cairo (Mr. Richard Dimbleby) says that these columns may have reached Bardia, where they would find little of any use to them.

Mr. Dimbleby says that infantry are established in the Sollum-Capuzzo-Halfaya area, in anticipation of possible Axis attacks. South-west of this area, on the frontier, many positions are in a state of preparation. Out in the desert are the strongest British mobile columns of all arms ever operated. The Axis forces in the desert have cut the Tobruk-Bardia road east of Gambut. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says that Gambut is in Axis hands. The British rearguard engaged two armoured columns between Gambut and Bardia.

The Washington correspondent of the United Press of America says that the Department of State has advised American civilians in Egypt to leave the country as rapidly as possible.

BRITISH LOSSES HEAVY

RUGBY, June 21

An Agency correspondent, commenting on the situation in the Western Desert, says it is understood to be possible the British have suffered heavy losses at Tobruk, but the extent cannot be stated until more is known.

The Germans and Italians claim to have captured the whole place. That also is possible. It is not known whether any of the troops were able to fight their way out. Apparently the enemy were able to concentrate all their forces at one point. The capture of Tobruk would allow the enemy to shorten the communication lines considerably. MANY PRISONERS AND BOOTY.

(Recd. 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, June 21. Special communiques issued at Berlin and Rome claim that. Tobruk has capitulated. The British United Press military correspondent says: Although there is no official confirmation of the Axis claims, there seems little doubt they are true. It adds the news is amazing. Much was expected of Tobruk, although until some official explanation is given, there is no time for useless speculation. The position now is that the Battle of Libya is over to all iintents and purposes, and with Bardia lost, the Germans control all ports on the Libyan coast. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent to-day described the position at Tobruk as precarious. He says the Axis attack against Tobruk yesterday began with an aerial bombardment, after which tanks breached the perimeter defences. Infantry followed into the breach, then the tanks went in again. According to the British United Press, the wording of the original Berlin special communique makes it clear that Rommel personally commanded the operations against Tobruk.

The Italian communique said: “After bitter fighting yesterday, wherein enemy resistance was smashed, an authorised British official waited on the commander of our Twenty-first Army Corps at seven o’clock this morning, and offered to surrender, in the name of the commander of Tobruk. Axis troops occupied the stronghold of the city and port, and took 25,000 prisoners, including seven generals. The booty was overwhelming.” A German communique repeats the foregoing Italian announcement, and adds: “We are hotly pursuing the defeated British eastwards. We have captured Bardia and Bir El Gobi.”

OPPOSING FORCES

LONDON, June 20.

An earlier report on the disposition of the Axis forces in Libya said that Marshal Rommel had withdrawn the majority of his forces to the El Duda-El Hamed-Sidi Rezegh triangle. The Italians had been bought up to positions in the Acroma area, with the Ariete Division, south of El Adem. The indications bore out the belief that the enemy was establish - ing himself round Tobruk’s perimeter in preparation for an all-out bid. Military circles in Berlin estimate the strength of the Tobruk garrison at 35.000 men.

According to Mr. Dimbleby, Lieu-tenant-General N. M. Ritchie’s Bth Army is now divided into three main groups. The strongest of these is on the Egyptian frontier, and another strong force is at Tobruk. The third section is dispersed in the desert to the south.

The military correspondent of “The Times” believes that there is no longer any doubt that General Auchinleck intends to hold Tobruk. The science of minefield defence has made considerable progress since the fortress was last beleaguered, but if Tobruk is assaulted it will be put to a test far more severe than on the last occasion.

Reuter’s Cairo correspondent, in a message sent before the attack on Tobruk said: “German tank columns which turned back yesterday after advancing to a point 25 miles from Bardia, have now returned to Tobruk. There is still a substantial number of British mobile units in Libya. They are continuing to operate from the south against the Axisheld coastal belt.”

BATTLE FOR EGYPT. | A Zurich message says: “Military experts in Berlin emphasise that Marshal Rommel has concluded the first phase of his bffensive, and has now entered on the second phase—the battle of Egypt. The extent of reinforcements recently sent to Libya, plus the valuable experience obtained during the first nhase, allow the forecast that the Afrika Korps I will shortly hoist the swastika over Alexandria.” Earlier’ messages said that the Axis ] forces had not approached the Egyptian frontier in any strength, although skirmishes had occurred 20 miles from the frontier.

I It is estimated that between 200 and 300 Axis tanks were destroyed during the offensive, not including those damaged and considered as possibly destroyed. Marshal Rommel may be able to repair captured General Grant tanks and adapt his 75- ■ millimetre ammunition for use in i them.

There still are a substantial number of British mobile units in Libya. They are continuing to operate from the south against the coastal belt, which is held by the Axis forces. There is reason to believe that Major-General Ritchie has reserves which he could use for a bold coun-ter-stroke which might reverse the whole Libyan position. It would be supported by the reinforcements which daily pour into the Middle East and are superior to those with which the Allies began the campaign. AXIS CLAIMS "LONDON, June 20. The German High Command spokesman claims that the Axis troops have captured Sidi Rezegh and Bir El Hamad. A report stated that Axis forces had entered Bardia. Previously the British had made preparations for a withdrawal. AERIAL OPERATIONS. LONDON, June 20. There has been no falling off in the attacks of the Royal Air Force, and it is claimed that there will probably be sufficient airfields behind the Egyptian frontier from which to continue air operations on the present SCcllO A Royal Air Force Middle East communique reports: — “Bombing raids were made on Thursday night on Benghazi, on Maritza (in the island of Rhodes), and on Heraklion, in Crete. Our fighters were active throughout Friday in the forward area of Cyrenaica, while bombers carried out a dusk raid on the main aerodrome at El Tmimi. Enemy aircraft which operated against objectives behind our lines along the North Africa coast yesterday were intercepted by our fighters. Several enemy bombers were so severely damaged that it is unlikely that they regained their bases. It is now known that three enemy machines not previously reported were shot down in Cyrenaica on Wednesday. We lost six machines in all these operations, but one pilot is safe.” ■ A R.A.F. Middle East communique reports bomber-fighter attacks on positions near Tobruk. Bombing raids were also made on Benghazi harbour, Tmimi aerodrome, and targets in Crete. None of our aircraft is missing.

COVERING WITHDRAWAL ~RUGBY, June 21. How both fighters and bombers continued to attack Rommel’s advancing columns, when German tanks were only fifteen miles away from their landing grounds, is told by the Air Ministry News service. When the withdrawal developed on Wednesday, fighter patrols and escorted bombing attacks on enemy tanks and armoured columns went on from dawn to dusk, service machines dropping loads on the enemy and returning again and again for more fuel and bombs. Fighters damaged nearly a score of ME 109’s on the Gazala aerodrome, while bombers attacked columns wherever found. Boston bombers took off and landed so near the enemy’s columns that as little as five minutes’ flying time to the objective was reported. When the enemy was one hour s travel away, the ground crews loaded the lorries and departed. The fighters remained overnight, although the enemy was only fifteen miles away. Their ground staff moved off at dawn and the fighters went into action on tanks which were in easy striking distance. They had been in the front line, but all were withdrawn safely, and headed towards the desert tracks to cover withdrawal of the ground forces. By evening, the whole force was re-formed at the new landing grounds. The withdrawal was carried through without hurry and concern, and within twelve hours, the bombers recommenced their raids.

LONDON PRESS COMMENTS

LONDON, June 19

The British Press does not disguise the fact that th? Libyan battle has resulted in a tactical defeat. Mr. Churchill’s reminder after Dunkirk, that evacuations cannot win wars, is quoted. It is suggested that the inability of the Navy and the Royal Air Force to interfere effectively with the Axis supply routes was caused by the lavish provision made by the Axis to meet all losses which were likely to be suffered. The “Daily Mail,” in a leading article, says that the public once again were badly misled over Libya, “inspired messages throughout suggested a very different state of affairs from what must have been the reality. It was too easily assumed that a success in the first round meant that the entire campaign was as good as won. An explanation of the Allied defeat must be given.” The military writer of the “Daily Mail” declared that a number of the British tanks in Libya were obsolete. Some had been used for over two years. The General Grants were experimental models and were not comparable with the General Grants now being turned out from the factories. The German Mark 4 outclassed the British tanks of every design. The military correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” strikes an optimistic note concerning Libya, declaring that Marshal Rommel remains vulnerable to a determined counter-attack and that he is undoubtedly short of petrol, men, and machines, and that his communications from Benghazi are strained. “There is reason to believe that Lieu-tenant-General Ritchie has reserves which he could use for a bold coun-ter-stroke which might reverse the whole Libyan position,” says the correspondent. “It would be supported by the reinforcements which daily pour into the Middle East and which are superior to those with which the Allies began the campaign.” i The Cairo correspondent of the Asisociated Press of Great Britain says: j “Many of our tank officers are re- | ported to be doubtful whether the tank has much of a future, because of the superiority of the anti-tank gun over the tank. The tank is excellent for smashing into and terrorising infantry, but is seldom effective if the infantry has good anti-tank 'gun’protection. The German 88millimetre anti-tank guns effectively knocked out the General Grant tanks, which were unable to get within range with their 75-milli-metre guns. No German tank captured was equipped with refrigeraitors, but some had fans.”

ITALIANS REPATRIATED.

I (Recd. 1 p.m.) I LONDON, June 21. 1 A Rome message states that Vulcania and Saturnia have reached Naples with the first batch of Italians repatriated from Abyssinia. t]