CRUCIAL DESERT BATTLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24944, 17 June 1942, Page 5

CRUCIAL DESERT BATTLE

WITHDRAWAL FROM GAZALA

BRITISH FORCES REGROUPED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 16. It is officially announced from Cairo that Lieu-tenant-general N. M. Ritchie has completed a new disposition of his forces. The Ist South African Division and the 50th British Division have been successfully withdrawn from Gazala. Enemy attacks yesterday on El Adem were heavily repulsed, our mobile columns lending strong support and the air force playing a full part. Gazala is 50 miles west of Tobruk along the main coast road. It has been stubbornly defended for weeks past by the South African and British divisions, and was regarded as one of the three strong points of the present battle area. The other two are Acroma and El Adem, both of which are still held. The withdrawal of our troops from their positions south of Gazala was carried but under coyer of magnificent fighting by the British troops around Acroma, and by an armoured division which beat off determined attacks. The main battle is being fought round the Knightsbridge, Acroma and El Adem area. Four enemy divisions are being thrown into the fighting, supported by mobile anti-aircraft batteries of heavy calibre. The tank losses on both sides are -heavy. • As a result of the speed of his thrust the enemy has left himself vulnerable in the flank and rear, and this is being taken full advantage of by our mobile forces. Axis wireless reports speak of strong air attacks on two large British convoys in the Mediterranean, and the Italians claim that heavy losses were inflicted; on our ships. It should be remembered, however, that in the past the Italian claims have always been greatly exaggerated. There were heavy British tank losses when our armoured forces attacked between El Adem and Knightsbridge and came up against a tremendously powerful concentration of concealed enemy anti-tank guns. Reuters special correspondent states: " Our tanks had massed, apparently seeking to cut through and 15th German Armoured Divisions, which were in the process of joining when anti-tank forces opened up. The tank commanders strove heroically to extricate their squadrons from the hellish fire,, but the slow-moving tanks, half-blinded by swirling dust,-were at a disadvantage."

' "The situation at the moment is undoubtedly serious, if not critical," says the Daily Mail's correspondent, adding: "Tobruk is now threatened far more directly than it has ever been in this campaign.

' "The whole of the desert front is in a state of flux as wave after wave of German tanks is thrown against the British armoured units barring Marshal Rommel's path to Tobruk and the sea. The situation remains serious, but the Eighth Army is fighting back hard from new well-chosen positions."

SERIOUS_^SPECTS ROMMEL'S BOLD BID DRIVE FOR TOBRUK ~ ■;■.''.. ~'...,..' LONDON, June 15. TRe next 24 hours may decide the fate of Libya. Cairo military experts declare that everything depends on the ability of the Allies to hold the ? Axis forces" back "from Tobruk. The Cairo correspondent of the Evening Standard states that there is every indication that the battle has reached the critical stage: Reuters correspondent at Cairo reports that very fierce fighting continues to-day, with heavy casualties on both sides. A special Italian communique claims that the Axis forces have by-passed Acroma and reached the Mediterranean. It added that all big enemy units which remain in the west are encircled. , f A Cairo • communique states that heavy fighting continues. The.enemy is attacking our positions near Acroma in" attempts to isolate troops remaining in the Gazala salient. The battle has become fluid, with the Germans attacking to the north from Trigh Capuzzo. while our mobile forces in turn have attacked their rear from the south: The enemy has been cleared from the east of "El Adem. The Eighth Army is counter-attacking vigorously, and is in process of adjusting its dispositions to meet developments. The latest reports from Cairo tonight emphasise that the Libyan situation has serious aspects for the Allied forces. The military correspondent of the Daily Express states: " Last night's news from Libya is bad. In plain words; Rommel has moved faster and more strongly than' was anticipated." An Italian Claim The British have not yet commented on the Italian claim that they have reached the coast between Gazala and Tobruk. The Italians admitted that they advanced only "after bloody fighting." '• *■•„.■,. Some quarters interpret the phrases in to-day's communique, "Our troops are remaining in the Gazala salient" and "Adjusting our disposition to meet developments," as meaning that withdrawal from Gazala is contemplated, if it is not yet already in progress. Reports from Cairo say that British and German tank losses are both very heavy The battle between armoured units in the area between Acroma and Knightsbridge is reaching a climax after four days.of heavy fighting. Last night the Allies retained the Acroma box, which has been heavily assaulted in the past four days. While the Acroma, El Adem. and Cxazaia positions are held Tobruk is regarded as safe. The Axis forces, however, are stubbornly holding on south of Tobrmc. where they held their ground m spite of repeated Allied tank, artillery, and air assaults. _ ■■■'> . Present information rebuts the Axis claims to have reached the coast. The Gazala road is believed to be open, and it is not thought that the enemy has penetrated north of Acroma. The Cairo correspondent of the Daily Mail says the battle is raging in the comparatively small Acroma-Kmghts-bridge-El Adem-Tobruk area. It is the fiercest battle the desert has ever seen. Tanks, mobile guns, armoured cars, trucks—practically everything either side possesses on caterpillars or wheels —are(milling in an indescribable inferno of flames, dust, and heat. Enemy Raids on Shipping

The Daily Express, reviewing,the results of three weeks of the Libyan campaign, says: " Both sides are now much weaker in armour, but still approximately equal. The Germans have more heavy tanks, but our mobile guns restore the balance. The Germans at last are putting in full air power. One of the battle's greatest mysteries is why Rommel did not, use the Luftwaffe at the start.. He is now using all his land and air strength simultaneously. The British are believed to be numerically inferior in the air* taking into account bombersi fighters, Stukas, tank busters, and all other types. The Germans certainly have more bombers, but we certainly have more fighters. We also have the advantage of quality. Our airmen are taking bigger risks without suffering bigger losses." Major Oliver Stewart, who is air observer for, the Daily Express, says that events in Libya, especially the fall of Bir Hakeim, direct" attention once again to the merits of the dive bomber. Reuters correspondent on the French frontier says the news of the Free French stand at Bir Hakeim spread like wildfire through France and stirred French people to the heart. Details of the exploit were received in towns and villages by short-wave wireless, which escapes systematic German jamming of news from abroad. All France learned-the news in incredibly short time.

The Italians and Germans are making the most intensive air raids on shipping near Toburk. 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. W ■ -■ . - J,~J The Daily Mail's military writer says: "To-day's communique reveals the grim fact that the Libyan battle has for the moment gone against the Eighth Army. We may find that General Ritchie has been forced to withdraw from Knightsbridge, in addition to Gazala, to a new front based on Tobruk, El Adem,. and El Gobi. It appears' - that- panzer forces broke "through ""between-: ""El- Adem' and Knightsbridge, artd are now forging to the north, while Imperial armoured forces harry their rear and possibly their flanks. It is likely that Rommel is going all-out for a decision and has brought up his full reserves of tanks. If this is so, the next few days will see the fiercest battles of the whole campaign." The Times military correspondent gays the primary object of the Italians and Germans is to overwhelm the remainder of the Gazala-Bir Hakeim line by simultaneous attacks from the west and east. Rommel's manoeuvres have an air of confidence, bred from the belief that he possesses better and harder-hitting weapons, otherwise they are almost incredibly bold, even for Rommel.