GAZALA LOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24302, 17 June 1942, Page 3

GAZALA LOST

BRITISH WITHDRAW OTHER POINTS HOLD s DRIVE TO COAST CLAIM BY THE ENEMY (Rocd. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 16 Lieutenant-General Ritchie has completed the new disposition of his forces. The Ist South African Division and the 15th British Division have been withdrawn successfully from Gazala. Acroma and El Adem are still holding out. Reports from Cairo last night emphasised that the Libyan situation has serious aspects for the Allied forces, said an earlier message. They stated that 24 hours might decide the fate of Libya. Military experts in Cairo say that everything depends on the ability of the Allies to hold the Axis forces back from Tobruk.

Earlier Oommunique From the confused reports of the fighting, said the 8.8.C., all that emerges clearly is that the conflict is growing in intensity and that the losses on both sides are heavy. The enemy's next move appears likely to be an allout attempt to reduce Acroma and get to the sea between Gazala and Tobruk. The fighting is still 15 to 20 miles from Tcbruk at its nearest point.

A Cairo communique stated"Heavy fighting continues.-The enemy is attacking our positions near Acroma in attempts to isolate our troops remaining in the Gazala salient. The battle has become fluid, with the Germans attacking northward from the Capu/./.o road. Our mobile forces in turn have attacked their rear from the south. "The enemy has been cleared from the east of El Adcm. The Eighth Army is counter-attacking vigorously and is in process of adjusting its dispositions to meet developments." The phrases in the communique, "our troops remaining in the Gazala salient and "adjusting dispositions to meet developments," were interpreted in some quarters as meaning that a withdrawal from Gazala was contemplated, if not already in progress. "Reached the Mediterranean"

A special Italian communique claimed that Axis forces had by-passed Acroma and reached the Mediterranean. It added: "All the big enemy units which remain to the west are encircled." The Italians said they advanced only "after bloody fighting." Ihe British authorities had not commented on this Italian claim to have reached the coast, between Gazala and Tobruk, but the Daily Telegraph correspondent said information rebutted the claim. r ihe Gazala road was believed to be open, and it was not thought that the enemy had penetrated north of Acroma. According to other reports the battle between the armoured forces between Acroma and Knightsbridge is reaching a climax. While the Acroma. El Adem and Gazala positions are held, Tobruk is regarded as sate. The Axis forces, however, are stubbornly holding on south of Tobruk, where they have held their ground in spite of repeated Allied lank, artillery and air assaults. The Daily Mail's correspondent in Cairo says the battle is the fiercest the desert has ever seen. Tanks, mobile guns, armoured cars and trucks —practically everything each side possesses on caterpillars or wheels—is milling in an indescribable inferno of flamed, dust and heat. The Italians and Germans are most intensively air-raiding shipping near Tobruk. Two .Junkers 87 s and a Junkers 88 were shot down while attacking Tobruk Harbour. The enemy is also attempting to blast supply bases far back along the road to Alexandria. Both Sides Reinforced The Evening Standard correspondent says there is every indication that the battle has reached a critical stage. The British and German tank fosses are both very heavy. The last official estimate of Rommel's tank losses, given a fortnight ago, stated that 2(10 panzers had been knocked out or captured. Rommel appears to have received reinforcements across the Mediterranean. General Ritchie also has been reinforced in the past three weeks. Axis reports of an attack on a big British convoy might mean that more aid is being rushed to General Ritchie.