AXIS ARMY GROGGY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 301, 19 November 1942, Page 5

AXIS ARMY GROGGY

BUT MAY MAKE STAND G.O.C. REVIEWS CAMPAIGN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 18. General Alexander, G.O.C. in the Middle East, in a statement at headquarters, said the fleeing Axis forces were most likely to make their next attoinpt to stand at El Aglieila, south of Benghazi, where they have prepared defensive positions. “The Axis forces are groggy, but aro not yet knocked out,” said tho General, “and there is hard fighting ahead. They are good fighters and will keep up rearguard actions as long as they can.”

Revealing tho completeness of the defeat in the Battle of Egypt, General Alexander said that out of an estimated total of 500 Axis tanks, only 15 escaped from the debacle. The Official Wireless quotes an agency report which states that General Alexander said the battle had gone faster than he had anticipated. It was known that it would he a hard sloggmg match for at least a week, because we had to punch a hole in the enemy’s defences and let our armour through. After that initial stage tho Eighth Army pushed the enemy hack from Alamein to Tobruk in less than a week—just half the time it took Rommel to push from Tobruk to Alamein in June. General Alexander thought that if anybody was entitled to talk about a blitzkrieg surely wo were. “This success was due to no weakness on the part of the Germans,” he said. “It was our strength that throw them back. Surprise was one of the biggest factors of our success. They did not know whence the attack was coming, or when the terrific weight of our artillery and bombing, plus the fine fighting qualities of our infantry, would open the gate and let the armour through. “All the main fighting was against the Germans and they were thrashed. The Italians hardly came into the picture. ENEMY NOW HANDICAPPED.

“The enemy tried to hold us at Alamein,” he continued, “and is still trying all the time to delay us but is not succeeding. The enemy is now handicapped by a shortage of transport. Although the quality of his equipment has not deteriorated, tho quantity has been reduced considerably, and lie is probably short of oil. What transport lie has left is not desert-worthy, which explains why he is sticking to the main road along the coast instead of splitting up iiis columns and using the desert tracks. The trip across the desert from Mekili to Msus would have been too hazardous for him. “Thanks to the Royal Navy and the R.A.F., the enemy is not getting new equipment in any quantity, and although no doubt he will do all he can to get equipment, his task will become increasingly difficult with tlie rapid advance of the Allied landing fields. He will not be able to use Benghazi harbour much longer and will then have only Tripoli. “The enemy might try to evacuate his troops from North Africa in a manner similar to the British evacuation at Dunkirk, but it will be an expensive operation.

“He will probably leave a small rearguard behind at El Aghcila, but lie lias only small forces at his disposal. These are disorganised and lack equipment. Nevertheless, he will probably try to hold El Aglieila as long as possible so as to organise himself further back. At El Aglieila there are strong prepared positions with minefields and wire.” There might still be very heavy fighting ahead, General Alexander added, but Rommel could not stand long unless reinforced. How long the enemy could hold on in Tunisia depended also on the reinforcements lie could bring in by sea. He would no doubt hold on to Bizerta as long as possible, hut lie must use the sea for bringing reinforcements. UNEQUALLED SPEED.

Tlie occupation of Derna and Mekili again indicates the rapidity of the British advance especially after crossing the Libyan border. Tlie Daily Telegraph’s correspondent with the Eighth Army says the British have covered nearly 400 miles during the past fortnight. This rate of advance is unequalled in any previous, compaign in this theatre. Such rapid progress is a tribute to 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 to have insufficient tanks to enable him to fight back before Benghazi. The Exchange Telegraph’s correspondent reports that Indian soldiers released when Tobruk was retaken have reached Cairo. They say that several more are awaiting release at Benghazi. Some of the Indians were treated like cattle during their captivity. They were insufficiently fed and clothed and were without shelter during R.A.F. raids. CLOSING THE PINCERS. A Press Association cable states: The Allies’ Southern Tunisian drive is a crucial factor in the campaign against Rommel, says the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent, who has just returned from North Africa. This drive is directed at control of the narrow corridor between the southern mountains and tho sea.

Axis control of this corridor would delay the application of the western chw of the Allied pincers, which is intended to meet the eastern claw formed by the Eighth Army advancing through Libya. The Southern Tunisian corridor is the only practicable land route between Libya and Tunisia. Observers in London believe that the Axis land forces intend to fight a holding action. Probably between 8000 and 10,000 Axis troops have been landed by air and they are still coming nt the rate of between 2000 and .3000 daily, evidently to keep open the line for the retreating forces from Libya. Every day the Axis can gain in Tunisia helps them in the transportation problem involved -in the redistribution of their forces in Europe. Hitler plainly hopes not only to create a pocket of resistance but to interpose a wedge between the Eighth Army in Libya and the Allied forces advancing from Algeria, and lie will try to make that wedge include Tripolitania as well as Tunisia. That wedge has Sardinia, Sicily, and Tunisia as its angles, and the Axis will endeavour to dominate the Mediterranean by closing the Sicilian Strait. Sicily is a tremendous aircraft base which, if tho Axis seeks a decision by air, may be more important for the enemy than Malta for months

lias - been for the An all-out effort by the Luftwaffe lias been foreseen by the. Allied leaders, who will command tremendously adequate air combat forces when the issue is joined.