KING’S MESSAGE

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

KING’S MESSAGE

BRITISH TROOPS PREDOMINANT PART SEEKING OUT GERMANS 'Elec. Tel. Copyritf’')) -United Press Assn.) ' (Reed. Nov. 21, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 20. A message from His Majesty the King was read to the troops before the advance into Cyrenaica. Troops from the British Isles are playing the predominant part in the Libyan advance. The proportion of Dominion troops is smaller than previously, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Imperial forces. Our troops are seeking out and engaging Germans in preference to Italians on the sound principle that one German destroyed is worth six Italians captured. For a week or two before the attack began the coastal road and railway to Mersa Matruh were carrying an immense one-way volume of traffic, including train loads of tanks. There were also 30-mile long motor convoys. Everybody knew that something was going *to happen, but few realised the extent and thoroughness of the preparations. Great dumps of petrol, munitions, food and water were formed at various points throughout the desert. Nothing has been left to chance. The men know this and are advancing in full confidence.

Surprise to Enemy

The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says the first reports from the Western Desert state that the offensive surprised the enemy. Two German armoured divisions are spread along the coast between Tobruk and Bardia. Italians are in position southward of Tobruk. The Italians are already retiring. The enemy were caught in dispersed areas with their formations scattered.

Pressure is being exerted on the enemy’s defence lines southward of the strategic Halfaya Pass.

A violent sandstorm swirled across the desert as the British tanks began to advance, smothering them from sight. Even the gun flashes could not be seen. This was followed by cloudbursts which brought rain down in sheets and turned the desert into a quagmire knee-deep in places. A large section of an enemy armoured division was spotted from the air, badly bogged. Marylands bombed it and caused widespread damage. The weather is now reported to be clearing. German Prisoners Captured

The Cairo correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that an unrevealed number of German prisoners have been taken. A powerful British armoured force is seeking battle with the German Panzer divisions in an unrevealed locality in Cyrenaica.

Military observers in Cairo say the secrecy of the drive caught the enemy unawares. The depth of the thrust surprised even the most optimistic, and has raised hopes that the siege of Tobruk may be lifted before the weekend.

Well-informed quarters sgy that General Auchinleck would never have launched an offensive unless he were confident of the Russian ability to hold out against the Germans in the Caucasus unaided. Masses of American material are being used. The Times’ correspondent with the Bth Army says it is too early to speak of the British objectives, because the direction of at least some of the British movements must depend on how the German armoured forces react to the offensive. The early stages of the campaign are likely to consist of manoeuvring by both sides for suitable firing positions. It is believed that sufficient forces of material have been assembled to dispose of the Axis ( armies in Libya. The maintenance of definite British air superiority depends on, whether Hitler diverts a portion of the Luftwaffe from Russia.