DESERT ADVANCE GOES ON

Grey River Argus, 19 November 1942, Page 4

DESERT ADVANCE GOES ON

ENEMY STAND UNLIKELY

Until Benghazi is Reached

■ Aust. & N.Z. Cable AssnJ (Rec: 10.40.) LONDON, Nov. 18. The occupation of Derna and. Mekjli again indicates the rapidity of the British advance, especially after the crossing of the Libyan border. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent with the Eighth Arm-v says: The British have covered nearly four hundred miles during the past fortnight. This rate of advance was not equalled in any previous campaign in .tins ' Such rapid progress is a tribute tq the skilful organisation of supply, which is the nightmare of generals in desert warfare. “Some pause in the advance Will probably be essential after the next stage is completed. But, at present, there are no signs of a halt. “The Axis forces in the last few days may have got, in some reinforcements, including a few tanks. But the enemy is believed not to hawe sufficient tanks toi enable him to fight back before he stands at Benghazi. It is more probable that Marshal Von Rommel’s army will utilise their long-prepared defensive positions at El Agheila The enemy’s morale and strength will' not be determinable before he makes a stand. • LONDON, November 17. , German-Italian communiques report fierce fighting yesterday between Derna and Benghazi. The Allied occupation of Derna was not unexpected, as earlier reports said the enemy was leaving the town and had blown up the road in three places. British armoured cars waited on high ground near the town, while sappers went forward to clear away enemy mines. ?' The Cairo correspondent of the National Broadcasting Corporation says: “There are signs that Marshal Von Rommel is going to fight again. The bulk of his armv has gone along the coast road. The further west the enemy goes, the harder it will be for us to deliver a knockout blow at Marshal Von. Rommel’s forces. The chances are that Marshal Von Rommel will pick up extra supplies and equipment at Benghazi, from ships which have been coming in there.during the past week. Marshal Von Rommel will try to make a stand with the hope of holding us up for the longest possible period. The Germans are going to give us a fight for our money before we close the gap between the Eighth Army and the forces moving into Tunis. , The capture of Mekili is the first news that British forces are advancing along fhe inland road as well as along thfi coast. Correspondents say that if the Eighth Army can get to Benghazi quickly enough it. may cut off a large part of the Axis forces. The enemy, although putting up almost no fighting - resistance, has been doing everything possible to slow down the British - advances by demolition „of roads and bridges and sowing minefields beside the roads.

Mekill is one-third of the way from Tmimi to Benghazi by the inland route. A report stated the Eighth Army is approaching the Jezel Klakhder region, 50 miles beyond Derna. Longrange fighters operating from the newly-won Martuba air base are strafing the dwindling Afrika Korps as far as El Agheila. Martuba _is the centre of Libya’s group of airfields. The Luftwaffe is now almost right out of Cyrenaica. The occupation of the whole area by land, is only a matter of getting there. The pursuit has continued at a steady pace, some 20 to 30 miles daily. The enemy is doing what he can to hinder the advance by rearguard actions and laying mines in their tracks. Since the battle of El Alamein, the enemy h.as evidently concentrated all efforts in getting away, as fast and as far as pos-? sible. For this purpose, elements in the rear had to start early before the pursuit was anywhere near them, though even ..so they have not escaped air attacks, as they have gone round the Gulf of Sirte. Hitherto the enemy by headlong flight, has been able to keep just clear of the head of the British pursuit, which, though not in immediate contact with them, is keeping i n touch. In these, circumstances it does not appear there are any enemy forces in Cyrenaica that can be called a main body. The troops seem strung out along all the roads and tracks leading westward, betwee n Jebelakhdar and the Gulf of Sirte.

The Eighth Army has covered over 400 miles m a fortnight and this immensely rapid movement involves considerable effort in getting up supplies, adequate not onlv for the maintenance of the Army, but the continuance of the pursuit over further vast distances. Although Tobruk is in our hands, it has Been so damaged by our bombers, that some time will elapse before it can be of much service as a supply port for the Army. ROMMEL’S REPORTED .DEMAND. FOR A SUPREME SOUTHERN . i COMMAND.

LONDON, November 17.

Reuter’s correspondent on the German frontier says: Marshal Von Rommel is having 'long conferences at -Munich with H6rr Hitler and others which are likely to affect not 'only Marshal Rommel's own career, but also the composition of the entire Axis General Staff News from Germany about a drama being enacted .around the personality of Rommel shows that enemies of the much-boosted chief of the Afrika Korps are now raising their heads, encouraged bv his failure in Egypt. Generals and party officials who have long envious of his success have now openly turned against him causing a crisis in the General Staff. Nothing about this so far has leaked out to the German public, who still regard Marshal Rommel as an invincible national hero, and are waiting for him to work a miraculous comeback in Africa. Marshal Rommel in the Munich discussions has repeated his demand for a “supreme southern, command,” which would comprise Italy, Africa, Sardinia, Corsica and also South Frahce, Kesselring is Rommel’s greatest opponent. The question most interesting to German militarists is whether Kesselring, who Is protected bv Goering, can assert himself against Rommel protected by Hitler (Rec. 1.0.) LONDON, Nov. IS. An Exchange Telegraph correspondent reports: Indian soldiers released wheji Tobruk' was re-taken, have reached Cairo. Thev say several move are awaiting release ar Benghazi, and that some . Indians were treated like cattle during captivity, being insufficiently fed and clothed, and they were without shelter during Royal Air Force raids.