DECISION TO ACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23996, 20 June 1941, Page 8

DECISION TO ACT

EVIDENCE OF STRENGTH

WESTWARD PENETRATION

AXIS PLANS ANTICIPATED LONDON, June is It is nearly 450 miles from Damascus lo Toluuk l>y aeroplane. Not. the movements on the outskirts ot: lioth centre's must l>e considered as parts of a single counter offensive against the (ierinan drive eastward. It is pointed out m London that General Sir Archibald Wavcll, fheCoin-miiiider-in-Chiel in the .Middle East, I would not have ordered what the British describe as "olleiisive action iind the Italians and (Jeniiaus as a "big offensive" unless the tones under his command were strong enough to strike in Libya while also providing amply tor the S\ rian campaign Attempt to Drive Wedge 'l'lie Hritish forces, in striking beyond the frontiers of tho countries which the Kiupire must dclend. are anticipating the A\is plans. It is believed here that a heavy hattle is coming, in which the British, hy a westward penetration of the Gambut area taliont -10 miles west: of Bat'din), will attempt to tlrhe a wedge between cucmv units operating in the Solium tind liardia areas, and those round the Tobruk garrison. If successful, it obviously would "sew up" the Axis troops in Solium and Bartlia pockets, as was the case with .Marshal Gra/.iani's armies six months ago. The military correspondent of the Daily Herald states: "It is surprising to lind the Hritish lighting in the Guuihut area, which is a third ol the way troui Hard in to Tobruk. Ibis should be the heart of the enemy's position, the foreo which surprised the Italians there probably was a small column, but it will be interesting to discover whether this movement forms part ot a larger operal ion. "Hid the (ianibut torco come trom Tobruk or Fort Captr/.y.0 by sea or by airr Whatever the answer, the enemy must- be surprised to lind it so tar west of liardia, Tobruk is still the most serious thorn in the enemy's side. The troops there seem very livelv. Aim of Offensive "The olleiisive may have been taken with the idea of recapturing the Helllire Pass, and disturbing the Germans as much as possible—they should be suffering from the heat and strain more than the British —or we may again be trying the methods used at Sidi Barrani last year, when we searched until we found a hole in the enemy's defences, and pushed a way through to see wliat would happen, (hat was (lie start of the attack which crumbled the Italian resistance." The Manchester Guardian, in a leading article, says: "It is possible that General Sir Archibald Wavcll is trying to anticipate a German olleiisive by one of his own. The task is harder than that ot last year, but there is one advantage —namely, the enemy lines in front of us are held by two armies, and the joints between two armies, which usually are weak, should be especially so when one of the armies is Italian."