DESERT PUSH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20619, 21 November 1941, Page 7

DESERT PUSH

EMPIRE_FORCES DRIVE IN LIBYA FRONT OF 140 MILES NAZI CHIEF’S FEARS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 20, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 19. Further reports concerning the drive in the Western Desert states that the British Imperial Army advanced on a front of 140 miles. A Cairo communique states: — “Imperial forces under Lieut-General Sir Alan Cunningham, who has taken over the command of the Btn Army, supported by the Royal Air Force under Air Vice-Marshal Conynghan, began an advance yesterday on Cyrenaica from the coast, east of Solium as far south as Jarabub. While pressure was rapidly exerted on the Axis forces holding defensive positions from Halfaya Pass tod Sidi Omar, British armoured units, supported by New Zealand, South African, and Indian troops, crosses the frontier south of Sidi Omar.” Romnel Worried The military writer of the Daily Express says that the German commander in North Africa, Genezal Romnel, fearing a British attack, flew to Italy a few days ago. He was worried concerning the continued non-arrival in Cyrenaica of vital supplies and reinforcements and wanted to personally hurry up the arrangements. He probably has now returned tb Tripoli. Some reports say he began a tour of inspection of the desert from Solium to Sidi Omar. There have recently been signs ol hectic building of fortifications and also evidence that large groups of troops were being posted at points all along the coast from Solium to Benghazi, with the object of guarding against raids like that on Bardia by commandos. The Spanish Morocco garrison was recently considerably reinforced with men, tanks, and arti.lery.