SECOND EDITION DELAYING ACTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23994, 18 June 1941, Page 8

SECOND EDITION DELAYING ACTION

FRENCH IN SYRIA GUERILLA TACTICS PIIOI.ONGING CAMPAIGN . (Reed. 1.15 a.m.) r.OXIIO.V, .Turin "17 It is authoritatively staled that the Allies have captured Aladnmi, 10 miles south-west, of Damascus, and j are now attacking Aatouz, six miles south west of the capital. The Allies . are holding Kiswe with strong forces and have strengthened their position by gaining control of a fortified position in (he neighbouring heights, which Indian and col--1 ing heights, which Indian and Colonial infantry stormed and captured. French tanks continue delaying actions, Inn tin l situation is stated to hi? will in hand, although il is admitted I hat the campaign may drag on longei than was expected. Surprises are still possible as it is difficult to keep a cheek en the movements of small French units employing t.iie strategy used in Morocco, namely, dashing Irom one point to another and retiring whenever they encounter opposition. j General Dent/,, in attempting to save Damascus, is employing niotorised j : I columns and cavalry in wide move- ] j incut. One column, alter losing many j ' vehicles, suddenly attacked and took j Fzra. then pushed on towards Sheikh iMiskine. which the Allies still liold.j ; Other small French units are reported j to he approaching Dera and concentrat-i , j ing around Fl ( v )uneit ra. with the j j object. apparently, ol cutting the j Allies' communications and relieving the j ; pressure on Damascus by necessitating] | the despatch southward ol troops trom | 'I the Allies' forward area, j The extent of the French guerilla i movement may he judged from the tact that one column counter-attacked Merjiyun, although it failed to dislodge the Australians. ! MASSED IN LIBYA I HUGE GERMAN FORCE ! 25 MOTORiSED DIVISIONS | (Herd. I a.m.) XHW YORK, .fiiuo 17 Germany has massed an army of J 500,000 in Libya for a major offensive against Suez, according to the New York Post's Lisbon correspondent, who has spent, a long period in Pome, the force is said to consist of 25 divisions, all niotorised. From the existence of five panzer ! divisions, he estimates thai Germany | has 2000 heavy and light tanks in ! Libya. So many tanks have been assemI bled at Naples that the docks cannot | hold them and hundreds lie along the beaches. The German heavy tanks, usually of | :j<3 tons, are unwieldy in the desert. hut it is almost impossible for lighter j tanks to stand up against them. The | principal lesson of the blitzkriegs has been that counter-attack with equally heavily-armed columns is the only elective defence. Anti-tank guns and fixed defences are insufficient. Observers, however, are hopeful that General Wavell's air strength "ill be sufficient Ito cope with the German offensive. It is believed the Germans will again i rely on Stuka dive-bombers to provide a mobile barrage, but for the first time in the war they will be opposed by fast | i fighters, adequately based. TRADE WITH CANADA j | NEW ZEALAND AGREEMENT 1 | EXTENSION FOR WAR PERIOD j (Kecil. 2.5 a.m.) OTTAWA, June 17 j | The existing trade agreement be- i | fcween Canada and New Zealand, which ! has been subject to renewal every year, will probably be extended to cover the duration of the war. This has been learned following a conference between the New Zealand delegation headed by Mr. F. Langstone and Mr. J. G. Coates and members of the Canadian Government.