Eighth Army Never Losing Sight of Fleeing Afrika Korps

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1942, Page 5

Eighth Army Never Losing Sight of Fleeing Afrika Korps

(Received 12 Noon) LONDON, December 16. [ATEST REPORTS INDICATE THAT ADVANCED FORCES OF THE EIGHTH ARMY ARE NEVER LOSING SIGHT OF THE AFRIKA KORPS FLEEING ALONG THE COAST ROAD FROM EL AGHEILA TO MISURATA.

Allied air forces day and night are harrying the Axis and giving no breathing space. Landmines are still impeding the troops, but fewer salt marshes are enabling faster progress in pursuit.

Rommel plainly is still retreating as fast as possible. His rearguards, consisting of machine-gunners supported by artillery and an handful oftanks, are fighting hit-and-run actions at the roadside among the sand dunes, but fighter-bombers are blasting these batteries. Allied bombing forces are forcing the withdrawing Axis columns into tighter concentrations, resulting in better targets.

Harassed From Air

A Cairo communique slates that our leading forces, though still greatly impeded by mines, continued to harass the retreating enemy and are now well west of Agheila. Machine-gun attacks by night fighters, which operate as far west as Nofilia, were followed yesterday by intense light bomber and fighter-bomber raids. Vehicles on the roads presented better targets and pilots report a great column of traffic moving westward. At least one enemy fighter was shot down during smallscale air battles. Morocco radio has announced that Rommel’s retreating columns are now reported to be strung ouc between points 65 and 145 miles westward of El Agheila. Malta Can be Supplied

Supplies that reached Malta recently were got through without particular incident, according to authoritative naval circles in London. Conditions are now more favourable for such operations as our possession of advanced landing grounds in the Benghazi area enables us to give fighter cover over practically the whole route at present. Long nights and prevailing bad weather are also factors that lessen the difficulties. Benghazi is once more being used as a supply base for the Eighth Army, though to a limited extent since the harbour was immobilised most completely by the Germans, who had ample time, and R.A.F. raids also helped destruction. Drove Fox From His Hole Brilliant manoeuvring around the Agheila positions, subtle patrol work, backed by deadly and accurate artillery support, and constant probing of enemy forward positions, were, according to a correspondent with the Eighth Army, the tactics used against Rommel with such overwhelming success to start the enemy on the run from their strongest defensive line in Libya. It is becoming clearer that Rommel mistook patrol activity for a major offensive. If Rommel makes a stand, one place which is ategically suitable is El Ghibir. 200 miles from El Agheila. The enemy are retreating over country which favours delaying actions, as it has many wadis and escarpments. For a time it appeared that Rommel was again going to leave the Italians as a rearguard, but this time the Italians also got away, so there is no suggestion this time of a rout. No Longer Orderly

Allied bombers at Marble Arch. 40 miles westward of El Agheila. smashed so many vehicles that the column was disorganised for many hours. The enemy sent up Messerschmitt 109 s, but they made only half-hearted attempts to interfere with the R.A.F.'s fierce attacks. Our planes found ground fire more dangerous than the German lighters. The Eighth Army’s proximity and the air force’s bustling tactics have dislocated what started off as an orderly withdrawal. "The Times” Cairo correspondent says that the retreat is still by no means a rout but is now proceeding far less smoothly. Berlin radio claims that General Montgomery has abandoned the attempt to reach Rommel’s forces frontally along the coastal road, and yesterday sent out motorised forces Kvith tank support to make a sweeping movement from the south to reach the Axis flank or rear, but all attacks were unsuccessful. Kept Over Axis Heads Several score transport planes of the tvpe that used to fly between New York, Chicago and San Francisco are playing a vital nart in the Allied air forces' advance, reports the British United Press correspondent at an Allied aerodrome west of Agedabia. They are bringing up provisions to this aerodrome vvhieh the Axis abandoned in their new flight westward. As fast as we occupy former enemy aerodromes, these stream-lined American transport air-liners deliver supplies, munitions and fuel, enabling the air forces to keen right over the heads of the retreating Axis forces. Many tons of supplies are being handled daily by transport planes.