RACE TO TRIPOLI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25101, 17 December 1942, Page 5

RACE TO TRIPOLI

TWO ALLIED ARMIES TRAP CLOSING ON ROMMEL RUGBY, Dec. 15. The battles in North Africa arc rapidly merging into one campaign. In the race to enter Tripoli the odds are in favour of the Eighth Army, whose advanced units are in close contact with the enemy rearguard. The main Axis forces are reported to be already 40 miles west of El Agheila. The Vichy radio quotes a Berlin report that Field Marshal Rommel is expected to make a resolute stand near Sirte. Rommel succeeded under strong pressure in disengaging his forces without loss, and has' withdrawn to prearranged positions. The New York Times correspondent with the Eighth Army says there were enough Axis troops at El Agheila to have made a determined and lengthy resistance, which would have been cosily to General Montgomery’s forces, but there were insufficient German ettectives. If Rommel had decided to hold the line at El Agheila he would have been obliged to leave the burden of the actual defence to the Italians m order to allow the required mobility to the experienced elements ot the Afrika Korps. The political situation in Italy, however, made it inadvisable to burden the Italian people with another and almost certain defeat, it was another instance of the German army leaving its allies in the lurch. Water Supply Problem Water supply will be one of the main problems of the armies operating on the desert coast between El Agheila and Misurata. There are a few small wells, but in a stretch of 850 miles there are only three places where a reasonable supply is available. The first after El Agheila is at Nofilia, 150 miles to the west. Sirte has a population of 14,500 and water supplies he a few miles south of the town. The third source is at Burat-el-Sun, half-

ntumnnmjmmmnmnnnnmnmjmis way between Sirte and Misurata. The last-named place- is a large oasis with plenty of water and west of that the country is well cultivated. A Cairo communique states: “A south-bound Axis merchant vessel was attacked off the west coast of Sicily by naval torpedo aircraft on the night of December 13. A hit on the stern of the vessel was followed by a violent explosion and fire, which spread the whole length of the ship, “ The most successful attacks yet recorded on the harbours of La Goulette and Tunis were carried out by our bombers on the night of December 13. Hits were scored on at least three ships at La Goulette. all being set on fire, Other fires were started on La Goulette Island, and near the main docks at Tunis. Attacks were also made on Tunisian railways. Two north-bound Junkers 88’s were shot down by fighters near Lampedusa Island yesterday. Only two of our aircraft are missing from these operations."

In Tunisia there is little news of the land fighting, which is still mainly confined to patrol work, but Allied aerial activity shows no signs of diminishing. The German High Command is placing still greater importance on retaining its grip on Tunisia, It has gained time to build up a considerable force and is continuing the attack before it is compelled to fall back on the defensive. The Paris radio quotes German military circles as saying that preparations are being made for, a great battle for the possession of Medjez-el-Bab. Mr Casey’s Mission

“ It is a good bet whether the Eighth or the First Army will capture Tripoli first,” the Minister of State, Mr R. G. Casey, said in London to-day, when giving ,an account of his mission to the Middle East. He said the preparations for a move at El Alamein had been long drawn out, because they were preparations for a move of 1500 miles forward. The campaign had gone strictly according to plan, and was now largely an administrative task, involving the complicated question of supply. Mr Casey thought the co-operation between the three services was an outstanding feature of the campaign. Never before had an army receivd such sustained and continuous support from the air, and the harrying of the Axis sea supply had been an important factor in the campaign. Since the beginning of December, 62 Axis ships had been sunk and as many again damaged. Mr Casey said his duties in the Middle East had been threefoldkeeping in the closest daily touch with the commanders of the three services, directing “ housekeeping ” on a grand scale, and taking all but military problems from the shoulders of the commanders, particularly those of political importance. Then there was the question of controlling and apportioning supply to 10 or 12 countries in the Middle East Transport and manpower were always troublesome, and there were also problems involving currency, economic stability, _ censorship. relations with the Allies, and the housing of refugees. Mr Casey paid a high tribute to the part played by Malta and by the mercantile navy in keeping the island alive.