"NO CAKEWALK"

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24131, 25 November 1941, Page 7

"NO CAKEWALK"

GERMAN RESISTANCE INTENSITY OF FIGHTING NOT A BATTLE OF RETREAT LONDON. Nov. 23 The military spokesman in Cairo said the battle of Libya was going at full blast, but it was too early to tell what course the battle would finally take—whether Rommel would fight to a finish where he is or try to get out of the ring. $ "The culmination of the battle is apparently imminent, but it may go on to-day and to-morrow," said the spokesman. "It is getting more and more intense. A bitter, confused and crucial battle has been going on all night and day in the Sidi Rezegh area. This is no cakewalk. The German armoured forces are fighting desperately and giving battle everywhere. It is false to suppose that the Germans are at present fighting a battle of retreat."

Possibility of Escape Reports reaching Cairo are confused because the fighters in the Western Desert have no time to send details. A typical report is: "Action started. Too busy to give details. Sorry." It is authoritatively stated that the information reaching London about Libya shows that the Imperial troops have split the enemy forces in the zone between Tobruk and Bir el Gobi on the Egyptian frontier into four or five different groups. The distances are so big, however, that it is premature to think the Italians and the Germans cannot escape. Under cover of darkness, or even in daytime, the enemy might find a hole in the net, through which a number may slip out, but the authorities say that no doubt a good proportion of the enemy will be caught. It is authoritatively stated in Cairo that the enemy has been completely cut off in the Halfaya Pass and Solium area.

Effect of Heavy Rains The enemy forces appear to have been split up in the zone of Tobruk— Bir el Gobi—Egyptian frontier, into a number of groups, of which four seem definable. One group has been cut off from its base in the Sollum-Halfaya (Hellfire Pass) area and can only escape either by breaking through or by defeating the British forces at present containing them. Another group is isolated near Gambut. The third is in the Bir el Gobi area, while the fourth is between Bardia and Sidi Rezegh. Various estimates of enemy tank losses have been given, but it is only possible to follow the Cairo statements which, in announcing the destruction of 130 tanks, comment that this figure is half the total of Rommel's tank force.

In regard to the mention of "exceptional climatic difficulties," it is felt that heavy rains which would not affect the manoeuvring in the desert itself, would be difficult on the escarpment area, where it is likely to be pouring down from the top of ridges in heavy streams.

Pincers Movement Two panzer divisions are making a desperate attempt south of Tobruk and west of Fort Capuzzo to escape. Slowly but surely the coming pincers movement is being carried out by three British armoured brigades, backed by imperial, New Zealand and South African brigades. Under cover of shells and constant bombing by all classes of aircraft, the Germans are attempting to cut a wedge toward the Derna mountains, which would permit organised defence and where even the Italians checked the Australian advance toward Benghazi last year. Three Imperial brigades, one of which is much faster than the German panzers, are closing up, and numerous rearguard actions took place on Saturday in which the Germans lost many tanks.

TURKISH SHIP SUNK (Herd. 8.50 p.m.) ANKARA, Nov. 23 The 600-ton Turkish ship Yonidjc has been sunk between Burgas and Istanbul. She is reported to have been torpedoed.