The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1942. N.Z.E.F. IN ACTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20824, 1 July 1942, Page 2

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1942. N.Z.E.F. IN ACTION

Yesterday’s suggestion that the New Zealand Division now in Egypt might already have acquitted itself with honour and distinction is now shown to have been well founded. Although only meagre reports are yet available, it is clear that the New Zealanders played a not inconsiderable part in the withdrawal -from Mersa Matruh, which, despite the German claims to the contrary, appears to have been carried out in reasonably good order and without heavy loss. Units of the division, it is nqw disclosed, arrived in the line on Friday and went into action the following day—and evidently did so to good effect. Preliminary reports speak of their having fought off several German attacks and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Then, haying been surrounded, they fought their way out at the point of the bayonet to link up with the Allied forces. ■ Here thei-e has apparently been another of those brilliant actions which has characterised previous engagements in which the men from the Dominion have been involved. Freshly arrived in the field, they were thrown into the breach to hold the enemy and fight a delaying action to cover the withdrawal. The indications are that they achieved this purpose and then succeeded in extricating themselves from what must have been an extremely difficult position. As to the general situation in Egypt there is a good deal that is obscure. Official secrecy, however, does not necessarily spring from a desire to conceal unfavourable news. On the contrary, the motive may be to withhold information from the enemy, in which case the policy of silence is more than justified. It is clear, nevertheless, that the Allied forces have carried out a substantial withdrawal and from this fact alone the public is apt to exaggerate the seriousness of the position. That it is serious cannot be denied, but it is not yet desperate and a feeling persists that it might be a good deal better than it appears on the surface. A correspondent with' knowledge of the country points out to-day that it is a matter for Congratulation, rather than disappointment that the Allies have withdrawn from Mersa Matruh, since to attempt to hold that town would have been to invite disaster. This is only one of many points that require to be borne in mind at the present time. A decision whether to retreat, to advance, or to make a stand must take into account the dispositions and relative strengths of the opposing sides, and a withdrawal made at the right time might contribute as much towards victory as an advance —and a good deal more than an attempted advance or an attempted stand at the wrong moment. From the reports that are available there is every indication that Allied strategy since the severe reverse at Tobruk has been wisely directed. There is nothing to suggest that the losses have been disproportionate although losses of material and supplies must have been heavy—and the withdrawal to more easily defended positions seems to 'have been carried out in good order. In the battle which raged around Mersa Matruh at the week-end, General Auchinleck’s forces appear to have been so disposed as to be able to inflict the maximum losses on the enemy at the minimum cost to themselves. It may be drawing the long bow to suggest that General Rommel has been lured further to the west into a more dangerous position, but that is a possibility which it would be well to bear in mind—certainly Rommel himself will hot have overlooked it. The intention appears to be to fall back on a line running from Aiamein to Bir Moghara, which, as the correspondent points out, offers excellent prospects for defence and is readily supplied at both ends. All the indications are that the real Battle of Egypt will be decided on this short line. So long as it holds, Egypt will be reasonably safe, although the danger, of course, will not be past, but once it is broken the whole position will demand reconsideration.

A great deal, almost everything in fact, depends upon the forces at the disposal of the respective armies. General Rommel clearly has the advantage in tank strength, but there is good reason to doubt whether tanks will be as effective against wellentrenched artillery as they were in the open desert. In the air, the Allies appear to have superiority and the circumstances suggest that they are able to make better use of their

air force. Rommel has perilously long lines over which to bring up supplies, which he will sorely need even for a brief campaign, and he is being attacked at every point all along them. On the other hand, the Allied supplies are compressed into a fairly compact area where they should be comparatively easily defended. More than that, unless reports have been misleading, there is no dearth of supplies in Egypt, itself. The whole question turns upon whether or not Rommel, after his long and exhausting advance, is still strong enough to break through to the Nile Valley. After what he has already achieved, no one is likely to under-estimate him or the force under his command. Making all allowances for these things, however, it is still possible to look to the future with calm confidence and even to nurture the hope that Rommel may have overreached himself and that the time will come when he will be deprived of all his gains.