BENGHAZI TAKEN

Grey River Argus, 23 November 1942, Page 5

BENGHAZI TAKEN

BY EIGHTH ARMY AFTER FOUR WEEKS’ ADVANCE Adverse Flying Weather [British Oflicial Wireless] LONDON, Nov. 20. . The Germans abandoned Benghazi, administrative centre of Cyrenaica, and formerly the main port in Libya. Rommel now appears to be in a position to take a defensive’ stand between Agedabia and El Agheila, to the south of the Gulf of Sidra. British advance forces are close on fleeing enemy troops. It seems from statements by the Germans that the northern arm of the Eighth Army, which drove along the coast from Derna has forced the Germans down the Libyan bulge. A German communique states that the Italian and German forces evacuated Benghazi according to plan after destroying all military installations. The Axis forces have also withdrawn from the Antelat escarpment, states a Cairo message, thus opening the way to the Benghazi-Agedabia coast road. The possibility of Rommel making a stand in Agedabia and El Agheila area has been frequently mentioned by correspondents. There is a narrow gap, twenty miles wide, between El Agheila and the marshes to the south, and it, is certain that Rommel will make the most of it to stem the British advance towards Tripoli, from where, correspondents say, Rommel is preparing to evacuate as many German troops as he can. General von Thoma, commander of the Afrika Korps, who is now a prisoner, has arrived in Britain. He was conveyed to London in a special train.

(Rec. 9.12) RUGBY, Nov. 21. The occupation of Benghazi by British forces is announced on Saturday at Cairo in a British Headquarters communique. It also stated: Forward troops of the Eighth Army were in contact with enemy forces in the neighbourhood of Agedabia. Bad flying conditions again interfered with an* activity over Cyrenaica' on Friday. Aero, dromes in Sicily were successfully bombed on Thursday night. A vessel of about two thousand tons was bombed and hit amidships and left on fire off the coast of Tunisia on Friday. It was later attacked by torpedo aircraft and left sinking. Another vessel was also attacked off Cape Bon. and was raked with cannon fire. Two JU 88’s were shot down in the same area. From all these operations, one British plane did not return. The British occupation of Benghazi on this occasion suggests a comparison as to relative speeds of the three occupations of the port. General Wavell, starting from Mersa Matruh. took fifty days to enter Benghazi. General Auchinleck, from the frontier, needed thirty-five days. General Alexander, from El Alamem, which is a far greater distance, took 28 days.

Freyberg’s Command (Rec. 7.50) LONDON, Nov. 21. It is revealed in Cairo that General Freyberg, in the Eighth Army’s main assault, commanded a British and New Zealand force, consisting .of two New Zealand infantry brigades, two British infantry brigades, two armcured brigades, the New Zealand divisional cavalry, with the light tanks and all the divisional guns, plus the equivalent of a division o f guns. ROMMEL’S WAY LONDON, Nov. 20. A first-hand account of how Rommel organised his retreat has been given by a South African pilot, who was captured by the Germans and has since been released by the British. Rommel stood up in an open car and drove up and down the coast road, he said. Every time he passed he was pointed out by the Germans. The South African described Rommel as a rough-faced man with an expression of sheer arrogance.

DESERT STORMS

AN ARMOURED BRUSH. (Rec. 7.20) LONDON, Nov. 21. Reuter correspondent _ despatch from Cyrenaica, says: British light armoured units contacted enemy armoured cars, but no serious battle resulted. Rain and wind are now sweeping the desert. There is no slackening in the Eighth Army’s pursuit of the enemy. Enemy to Make a Stand REINFORCEMENTS RECEIVED. (Rec. 8.30) BERLIN, Nov. 21. The German Oflicial News Agency states: A German and Italian tank army in Libya has now taken up positions which have long been prepared, and have been reconstructed in considerable depth. The army has also been reinforced by most modern tanks and guns.

Enemy’s Rear

NEARING EL AGHEILA. (Rec. 11.50.) LONDON, Nov. 22. • Reuter’s correspondent in Libya stated: Marshal Von Rommel’s rearguard is now racing to El Agheila, after having had an engagement on the escarpment southwards of Benghazi, and being hard hit by the Eighth Army’s advanced units. “The enemv is laying big minefields in an effort to gain time, while he takes up his positions at El Agheila. “The present indications are that Marshal Von Rommel will not use a secondary defence line at Agedabia.” FUTURE OF EGYPT R.UGBY, Nov. 19. Opening the Egyptian Parliament to-day, King Farouk said that Egypt’s interests would be safeguarded when hostilities ceased and peace negotiations began. He read a letter from the British Ambassador (Sir Miles Lampson) giving that assurance and stating that the British Government would use its good offices with the object of ensuring Egypt’s equal footing at the peape negotiations which might directly affect its interests. Moreover, the British Government would not in the course of the negotiations discuss any question directly affecting Egypt’s interests without consultation with the Egyptian Government.