The Northern Advocate “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1942. Montgomery Strikes Again

Northern Advocate, 18 December 1942, Page 2

The Northern Advocate “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1942. Montgomery Strikes Again

EYES are still directed towards the shores of North Africa, where is being hammered out on the anvil of war a new design for the assault which is to De made upon the citadel of the Axis monstrosity. It is difficult for people living in comfort in this part of the world to appreciate fully the significance of what has been achieved in Africa by the British Eighth Army on the one hand and the forces of Britain and America on the other hand. The war in Africa has witnessed whirlwind advances and retreats over hundreds of miles east and west. At one time the pursuers have been the British, at others the British have been the pursued. Now, however, there seems to be almost assurance that the last eastern sweep has been made. There is every probability that heavy fighting will yet take place, because it is obviously imperative on the part of the Germans that they should retain their grip on Tunisia even if they should be driven out of Tripolitania, as seems to be a reasonable deduction from the events of the past week or so. Rommel, the German leader, was expected to make at El Agheila a desperate resistance to the pursuing Eighth Army. His failure to do so, and his precipitate flight, appeared to be due to the terrific pounding he had received from British guns and planes. There is little doubt that this bombardment and aerial bombing must have sadly shaken the German troops, despite the strong defensive position they occupied, but it is revealed in today’s news that British strategy, not less than the weight of British striking power, contributed largely to Rommel’s decision to cut his losses and flee lest worse things should befall him. While an artillery and aerial attack was being made upon the German positions at El Agheila, giving the enemy forces no rest or opportunity to develop the strength of their position, a British force was making an outflanking movement from the south. There was mention some days ago of New Zealanders being engaged in an enterprise answering to this description, and it may possibly transpire that men from New Zealand have taken a prominent part with their comrades from Britain and other portions of the Empire in a movement calculated to threaten the stability of Rommel’s army.

However that may be, it is clear that the approach of a force from the south threatened to cut off the German line of retreat. Apparently Rommel believed retreat was imminent for, on learning of the British move, he immediately resumed his westward flight in the hope that he would be able to reach Tripoli or other defendable point with a considerable portion of his army intact.

That was the first impression to be deduced from the abandonment of El Agheila, but later news suggests that the British force succeeded in driving a wedge into the retreating Germans, a large number of whom have been cut off at a point some forty miles or so west of El Agheila.

Whether this is so cannot be determined until further news is received, but in any case it is evident that the enemy has received a serious drubbing, which may be expected to affect Rommel’s future operations, for he had clearly been hopeful that if he could not hold the British at El Agheila he would be able to reinforce the German forces at Tripoli and eventually in Tunis. The fighting in Tunisia itself does not seem to have reached a decisive stage, though the Allies have made important progress, which creates confidence that if a real show-down is necessary, the Germans will fare the worse. There are indications, however, that strategy will not be. subsidiary to force in the attempts to capture Bizerta and Tunis, keypoints wffiich the United Nations must occupy whatever the cost may be. The situation so far as it has developed is distinctly satisfactory from the United Nations’ point of view, and there is little doubt that it is contributing to the speculation apparently developing as to whether, and when, Germany will collapse under a combination of circumstances not foreign to those which preceded the disintegration of German morale in the closing months of 1918.

While the German people have good reason to ask why they should undergo further horrors brought upon them by the infamous conduct of Hitler in throwing the nation into war, it would be criminal folly on the part of the United Nations to rely upon a German collapse not caused by military defeat. Rather must they increase their striking force so that an irresistible blow shall be struck at a weakening foe. That is a task to which every civilian, no matter where he may be placed, ought to apply himself with all the energy and financial means he possesses.