ROMMEL’S UNITS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15076, 23 June 1942, Page 3

ROMMEL’S UNITS

REACH EGYYTIAN FRONTIER EIGHTH ARMY STILL FORMIDABLE. SOUTH AFRICANS AT TOBRUK. United Press Assn.—By ElectricTelegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 22. Th© Vichy radio reports that Rommel’s motorised units have reached the Egyptian frontier at several points. The Swiss radio announced that the Luftwaffe last night attacked aerodromes and British motorised units in Western Egypt, causing fires and destroying batteries. A late message from Cairo states that since the fall of Tobruk operations have shifted to the coastal area near the Egyptian border near Solium which was the scene of much bitter fighting in earlier campaigns. Axis claims regarding the number >f prisoners taken at Tobruk are as usual greatly exaggerated, but General Smuts has revealed that a considerable force of South Africans were among the defenders of the fallen fortress.

Reuter’s correspondent states that although General Ritchie army has suffered heavy losses it is still a formidable fighting force. FALL OF TOBRUK A DISASTER London newspapers all agree that th© fall of Tobruk is a disaster which gravely affects the Middle East position and calls, for decisive action for a searching inquiry and an urgent overhaul, even if painful. The Daily Mail’s military correspondent says; “While Tobruk held out Rommel was incapable of making a blitz on Egypt 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 our reserves begins all over again. W e must be ready for an early fierce assault on Egypt. Paratroops and airborne troops from Crete and the Greek Islands . maystrike at Cyprus, direct at Alexandria of in the immediate, rear of. our frontier forces. ’’ The military correspondent of the Daily Telegraph strikes an optimistic note, declaring that Rommel re- : mains vulnerable to determined counter-attacks, that he is undoubtedly short of petrol, men and machines, and that his communications from Benghazi are stra.iikxl. “There is reason to believe,” he says, “that General Ritchie has reserves that can be used for a bold counterstroke which might reverse the whole Libyan position. It would be supported by the reinforcements which daily pour into the Middle East and are superior to those with which w© began the campaign.” The Cairo correspondent of the Daily Mail says: “Our line starts from Solium and runs down the Egyptian’ frontier. although the term ‘line’ is overexact because there are troops being reorganised miles back in Egypt while others aye. operating miles forward in Libya. The Imperial line is fixed and definite only along the cliffs over Haifava and Solium wher© there is an intricate system of minefields, gun positions and ravines in which th© British have dug in. Tt is evident that the Eighth Army is still able to muster a formidable force.” TREMENDOUS ATTACK ON SATURDAY. Rommel launched tremendous bombing attacks against Tobruk on Saturday morning. Large formations were overhead throughout th© day ami massed tanks comprising the bulk of the Afrika Corps attacked from the East while heavy artillery shelled the defences from the escarpment tec, miles south of 'Tobruk. Th© Rome radio says that for 24 hours Italian bombers, dive-bombers and fighters incessantly attacked the forts, pilboxes and concentrations of British tanks and veil ivies r J he ackack was at first formidable but was hammered until it was negligible. An Alexandria message say- evacuation decided upon, some mouths ago has begun for peojde ?n the defined danger area. The Daily Express’ corre ipondont in the Western Lesert says: ‘ Rommel massed nearly th© whole ©f 1 is six divisions against Tobruk, outnumbering the defenders by three to one. At about 9 a.m. on Saturday two Panzer Divisions and the Italian A riete Division attacked the perimeter’s weakest »>oint near El Duda. The defenders made a br'ef stand and fell back .-to i nterior positions which were five miles northwestwards. “Elements of the German Nineteenth Light Infantry rushed the gap and dug in under the. pr.»ti I .A n of the heavy guns. Ween the 1..V1try was firmly establi uid the artillery again moved ..p Meanwhile other enemy forces were engaging the defenders all around tl» t . perm eter aii-d all Tobruk w is under M avv fire Bitter fighting continued early on Sunday. “The garrison consisted of a mixed fore© of British and Allied troops, with a few tanks bu: guns. r J lie. garrison was far fewer than during the previous siege. “It can now be reveal ;c that •% t. pushed th© railway ficm Eg/ it also a. new water pipeline Fuiiwst into l'obruk. Th© Germans hold th© railroad. also part >f the pi pm i no, but no rolling stock was trapped and the water was cut off before, the battle.'” Reuter’s Alexan Iria cor re-pond©lit say* that six Greeks w*o e -cap. d from their homeland -fate th .* there are many G»- ,n n planes in Crete. Underground l ingi** are being built at Maleme win r o th - acm drome is also being ext*' « i.» 1 The Rome radio staU ; that Tobruk barb .mi was < a t if d in a ion ditioj.. for immediate use. The military writer of rh< Daily Majl declares hai- a i.unil i-r of the British tanks in I. by.i a r» oliMilcti . vSome have fieem used for more than two years. The “General Grants” are experimental models, ami are not comparable w r ith those no* being turned out from the factories. The German Mark IV’s have outclassed British tanks of every design. The Daily Mail, in a leader, says: “The public once again has been badly misled over Libya. Inspired messages throughout have suggested a v<*ry different state of affairs from

what must have been the reality. It is too easily assumed that success in the first round means that an entire campaign is as good as won The explanation of oUr defeat must be given,.”