DEFEAT IN LIBYA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24949, 23 June 1942, Page 3

DEFEAT IN LIBYA

TOBRUK CAPITULATES

ATTACK ON EGYPT EXPECTED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) RUGBY, June 21. It is officially confirmed in London that Tobruk has fallen. The London newspapers all agree that the fall of Tobruk is a disaster which gravely affects the Middle East position and calls for decisive Government action, for a searching inquiry, and. an urgent overhaul, even if it is painful. The Daily Mail's military correspondent says: " While Tobruk held out Marshal Rommel was incapable of making a blitz on Egypt, but now he will not wait a second longer than is necessary before striking the main blow. It looks as though we must fight a defensive frontier battle while the wearisome process of building up reserves begins all over again. We must be ready for an early fierce assault on Egypt. Parachute troops and airborne troops from Crete and the Greek islands may strike at Cyprus direct, at Alexandria, or in the immediate rear of our frontier forces." The Daily Express correspondent on the western front says: ''Marshal Romnfel massed nearly the whole of his six divisions against Tobruk, outnumbering the defenders by three to one. About 9 a.m. on Saturday two panzer divisions and an Italian division attacked the perimeter's weakest point near El Duda. The defenders made a brief stand, but fell back to interior positions, which were five miles to the north-east. Elements of the German 90th Light Infantry Division rushed the gap and dug in under the protection of heavy guns. When the infantry was firmly established, the artillery again moved up. Meanwhile other enemy forces were engaging the defenders all around the perimeter, and all Tobruk was under heavy fire. Bitter fighting continued early on Sunday. The garrison consisted of a mixed force of British and Allied troops, with a few tanks and guns. The garrison was far smaller than during the previous siege. It can now be revealed that we pushed the railway from Egypt, as well as a new water pipeline, almost into , Tobruk. The Germans hold the railhead and part of the pipeline, but no/ rolling stock was trapped. The water was cut off before the battle." V- *

HEAVY JBOMBING WEIGHT OF ENEMY BLOWS "EGYPT NOW IN PERIL" / (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, June 21. Marshal Rommel launched tremendous bombing attacks against Tobruk on Saturday morning, large formations being overhead throughout the day. Massed tanks, comprising the bulk of the Afrika Corps, attacked from the east while heavy artillery shelled the defences from an escarpment 10 miles south of Tobruk. The Rome radio says that for 24 hours Italian bombers, dive-bombers and fighters incessantly attacked forts, pill-boxes'and concentrations of British tanks and vehicles. The ack-ack flrewas" at first formidable, but it was hammered until-it was negligible. An message says that the evacuation decided upon some months ago has begun for people in the de/fined danger area, ' The Imperial forces are now preparing the Halfaya", Solium, and Capuzzo triangle to meet Rommel's next blow. It is hoped that some of the Tobruk garrison escaped by sea during darkness. r * The Daily Mail says: " The fall of Tobruk completes the disaster to our ' arms in Libya, and again gives a stern warning of the enemy's strength and. resourcefulness. Tobruk last year "resisted for nearly eight months. Now it falls in days with the loss of many thousands of our best soldiers : stores, and munitions, which the remainder of the Eighth Army urgently need. The people of this country are bitterly hurt and not a little bewildered. The British are going to be a very angry . people." ' Mr John Gordon, writing in the Sunday .Express, says: "Egypt and our shaky hold on the Mediterranean are in peril. This is because in Libya we experienced a disaster we certainly never anticipated. It is a pretty dreadful story. It means that any hope of passing to the offensive there has gone. ' Any moment now we may see clouds of parachute troops who have been training in Greece and Crete come into the picture to increase our difficulties."

GRAVEJtEVERSE REACTION IN BRITAIN AXIS CLAIM 25,000 PRISONERS (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 21. The Libyan defeat, Mr Churchill's visit to President Roosevelt, the opening of a second front, the anniversary of the German onslaught on Russia, and the grave shipping position—ali these are the leading topics ■ of discussion to-day. In addition, there is speculation whether the Japanese propose to attack Russia. The immediate reaction to the Libyan defeat is irritation, if not anger, the people feeling that they have again been misled by the optimistic communiques and statements of official spokesmen. It is claimed that one of the lessons of the campaign is that an anti-tank weapon is required, resembling in effect the torpedo against shipping—a tank-biister. The myitary correspondent of the •British United Press says: " The news is amazing. Much was expected of Tobruk, although until' some official explanation is given there is no time for useless speculation. The position now is that the battle of Libya is over to all, intents and purposes, and 'with Bardia lost the Germans control all the ports on the Libyan coast." ■■ According to the British United Press, the wording of the original special communique from Berlin makes it clear that Marshal Rommel personally commanded the operations against Tobruk. . The Italian communique said: "After bitter fighting yesterday, in which enemy resistance was smashed, an authorised British official waited on the commander of our 21st Army Corps at • 7 o'clock this morning, and offered to surrender in the name of the commander of Tobruk. Axis troops occupied the 1 city and port, and took 25,000 prisoners, including seven generals. The booty was overwhelming." The German communique repeats the foregoing Italian announcement, and adds: "We are hotly pursuing the defeated British to the east. We have captured Bardia and Bir el Gobi." NAZI PLANES IN CRETE UNDERGROUND HANGARS (Rec. 10 p.m..) LONDON, June 22. Reuters correspondent at Alexandria says that six Greeks, who escaped from their homeland, state than many German planes are in Crete. Underground hangars are being built at Maleme, where the aerodrome is also being extended.