BID TO DESTROY ENEMY FORCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20619, 21 November 1941, Page 5

BID TO DESTROY ENEMY FORCES

WAIT FOR NEARLY FIVE MONTHS SUDDEN THRUST SURPRISE TO AXIS BRILLIANCE OF STRATEGIC APPROACH (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 21, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 20. Authoritative circles, commenting on the Libyan situation, say the advance is proceeding according to plan. „ “This offensive has been long and elaborately prepared, stated a commentator. “We have waited for nearly five months in order that the army should be well equipped with all the weapons that have made their mark in this war. If in this case the enemy’s armour is destroyed, or seriously defeated and air power dominated, the plight of his infantry and artillery crowded in the coastal regions will evidently become serious.

“The object of the British and Empire offensive is not so much to occupy this or that locality, but the destruction of the army, and primarily the armoured forces of the enemy. “One thing is certain, the British and Empire troops are animated by a long, pent-up, ardent desire to engage the enemy, and feeling, as all do, that this is the first time we have met the Germans at least equally well-armed. “There is nothing in the world like the war conditions prevailing in the Libyan Desert in which swift, far-ranging movements are only possible by the extraordinary use of armour, air power or power of mechanisation. The conditions in many respects are like those of the sea war. .An encounter, when achieved, is like a clash of fleets and flotillas and, as with a sea battle, all may be settled one way or the other in the course of a few hours. Contact at Many Points “For this purpose the army on the Western Desert took up a preliminary station on a broad front from the sea to Jarabub to the oasis and alt was in readiness on the nightfall of November 17. Rainfalls hampering the movement of our forces appear to have been far heavier in the coastal region than in the desert and may well prove more harmful to the enemy than to us. During the eighteenth our army made contact with enemy outposts at many points. “It seemed certain that the enemy was completely surprised. The desert army is now favourably situated for the trial of strength. It is evident that the next few days will see developments which will include many highlyinteresting features. It is not known whether this trial actually has begun, but evidently it cannot long be delayed. “It is too soon to indulge in exultation. General Sir Claude Auckinleck has made a brilliant, successful, strategic approach and taken positions of marked advantage. All depends on the battles which will follow. ’ ’ The British Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East, General Sir Claude Auchinleck told the Daily Express correspondent: “We are going to find and fight them. It may be a day or two before the battle takes shape. It depends where Rommel is. Our air force is adequate this time. Our armoured forces will meet the Germans on something like equality. In morale we are far ahead.”