Trap half Of Rommel's Remnants

Northern Advocate, 18 December 1942, Page 3

Trap half Of Rommel's Remnants

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THE EIGHTH ARMY HAS OUTFLANKED AND TRAPPED HALF THE RETREATING AXIS FORCES IN LIBYA, SAYS AN ASSOCIATED PRESS CAIRO CORRESPONDENT.

Advanml Brilisli forces, including tankas, a]‘till(‘ry and infantry, veered deeply in ihe south with lightning speed, then struck inwards the coast from Wadi Matratin, (10 miles west of E! Ayheila. A wed ye was then driven between the withdrawing (lerinans. a sizeable portion of whom were cut off, including- panzers, infantry and artillery.

German units desperately attempting- to break out, suffered losses at the hands of the pursuers and were also harassed by another British column in the vicinity.

The British, in a wide sweep to get round the retreating Germans, encountered little opposition. The Germans were so busy withdrawing that they apparently neglected to cover their flanks adequately. When the British reached Wadi Matratin, fighting spread out from that point. The artillery secured vantage points and continually shelled the Sirte Road, while tanks made sorties into the hard-pressed Germans and Allied infantry cleaned up German groups with rifles and bavoncts.

Whole I’anzcr Division

Meanwhile, Allied air forces have intensified attacks in the battle area. The main target was a fleeing enemy column in the vicinity of Noiilia, 90 miles west of El Agheila. These planes strafed the Germans who passed before the Eighth Army cut the Axis force in two relays. Fighters, fighter-bombers, light and medium bombers, morning and afternoon gave the Germans no rest.

Among the objectives were semipermanent roadside defences for the protection of the withdrawing Germans. Single stick bombs, in some cases, wiped out the defences, also traffic on the road.

Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says that the British force which split Rommel’s army, made a dash over 100 miles through sand dunes to reach the coast road near Wadi Matratin. Other units of the Eighth Army advanced rapidly to the neighbourhood of Marble Arch. Which is about 15 miles east of the force near Wadi Matratin, thus reducing the Germans’ manoeuvring space. A bitter struggle is raging as the encircled enemy force, which is reported to include one .panzer division, tries to hack its way westward.

Gigantic Feat Of Supply

To by-pass El Agheila it was necessary to swing at least 30 miles south, then creep westwards over ground broken by wadis and along barely discernible desert trails, reports the British United Pt;ess correspondent with the Eighth Army. Our force raced against time over this broken, arid country, while the enemy, aware what we were doing attempted to withdraw It was a gigantic task of supply, outflanking a force with food, water, ammunition and petrol. The fleeing Germans in Libya have been cut in tt-.vo 50 miles west of El Agheila. by British advanced forces, states the Cairo communique. "Early yesterday our advanced forces reached Wadi Matratin and took up positions from there southwards.” the communique states, "thereby cutting the retreating enemy columns into two. Enemy troops east of this area include armoured formations which, in attempting to break out. have suffered heavy casualties and continue to be severely mauled. Fighting continues.” The communique adds that Allied air forces continue to attack the retreating enemy. Always On The Move Advanced forces of the Eighth Army are believed to have fought an action of some importance against Rommel’s rearguards, faking a number of prisoners. Members of the Eighth Army are having a frying time. They drive on all day with only a mid-day halt lor a jug of tea and the inevitable bully-beet. With darkness, the troops put down blankets alongside trucks and tanks and move on at dawn, mostly unshaven and unwashed. Though the size and strength of the enemy force cut off some 60 miles west of Agheila is not yet known in London, correspondents at Cairo report it includes a considerable portion of Rommel’s armoured units and that the personnel is mainly German. . A 8.8. C. observer says it is known that Rommel had placed his best lighting units in his tail during the retreat from Agheila. Wadi Matrain. where a strong Allied column of all arms reached the sea after making a detour of some 100 miles of unchartered desert is a drywater course, running at right angles from the coast and is crossed, not only by the coastal road but by a secondary road 10 miles inland that loops to the south from the main road at Ras El Aali, 20 miles west of Agheila. If would appear from the Cairo communique that the Eighth Army is now as l ride both these roads. The position is obviously very serious for the enemy, who is reported to be making violent attempts to break out of the trap and that, in doing so. is suffering heavv losses. A Bluff that Worked Allied air forces are also increasing these losses. The 8.8. C. observer remarks that with the news of the cutting in two of Rommel’s army a great deal of mystery surrounding the movements of the Eighth Army suddenly becomes clear. For several days past this column of ours has been on the move round the enemy's flank, while the army talked glibly of the slowness of its advance, of its difficulties with minefields, and booby traps and supply difficulties. The R.A.F, has co-operated vigorously in keeping the enemy reconnaissance planes out of the sky. Meanwhile the main forces of the Eighth Army, which have not yet been engaged, are still in the Marble Arch area, pressing the enemy rear. Great use is being made of giant aircraft, according to an agency correspondent, who says that 70 of them landed on December 14 at a forward landingground carying a variety of vital supplies. It is stated the R.A.F. destroyed two enemy fighters this afternoon.