THE LIBYAN ZONE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24102, 22 October 1941, Page 9

THE LIBYAN ZONE

AXIS LOSING GRIP BRITISH FORCES READY AWAITING CUE FOR ACTION (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, Oct. 20 My own personal impression of the situation here is based on general facts which are common knowledge—that the Nile Valley and even its approaches are fast falling beyond the grasp of the Axis forces in Libya. Their chances of making any really worth while progress into Egypt have faded. Britain should be able to strike first and strike decisively in Libya before any threat of a pincer movement, such as was nullified by our action in Syria and Iran, again arises. With Russia's help we have had time to breathe; time to dispose our Middle East forces in order, firstly, to strengthen Egypt's border defences, and now to prepare for the offensive in Libya. Decision Must be Final Within reasonable limits Britain has been, and still is, able to stay her main thrust here until it can be made with complete confidence and probably even with resources distinctly in excess of those she will actually require to clinch the North African campaign, for this time obviously the decision in Libva must be final.

We have long been watching the background of the Western Desert drama, where Britain has been strengthened by a great influx of tanks, guns, aeroplanes and troops. The Royal Air Force in night and day raids, which have been heavier than ever, must be seriously hindering the Axis forces' efforts to supply themselves at the same rate, and naval activity in the central Mediterranean has the same end in view. Tobruk is holding its head above persistent harassing, and our forces on the frontier are keeping the enemies at bay. Warfare of 1941 Model If the New Zealanders are used in the ultimate major engagement they will find themselves in warfare of the 1941 model, which they only have seen before from a one-sided point of view. 1 can visualise tank battles waged under close air support, for we know both sides have material for action of this sort, and in supplementary operations in support of tanks I can see scope for infantry to meet infantry on better terms than ever before. Possibly the enemy himself, in a last desperate show of aggressive strength, may give us our cue. Then we may expect to see the whole great Western Desert war machine, whose cogs and levers reach from the Libyan border back to eastern supply ports, slip into high gear.