ROMMEL’S TANK LOSSES

Southland Times, Issue 24632, 2 January 1942, Page 6

ROMMEL’S TANK LOSSES

BATTLE AT JEDABAYA ITALIAN NEWSPAPERS TRY TO CALM READERS (Rec. 6.30 pjn.) LONDON, December 31. There is no information about the number of tanks the German Commander, General Erwin Rommel, has left, but it seems highly doubtful whether he can afford to lose as many as the communique revealed as lost in the clash around Jedabaya. A Cairo message says General Rommel has lost more than 60 tanks since the retreat started. Mopping up around Bardia and Solium continues slowly. Swiss reports say the Italian newspapers are trying to calm their readers with an assurance that the “decisive battle for Libya has only started, , because the Italians and the German High Command have decided to meet the enemy at' Jedabaya.” The reports add that strong reinforcements are being sent to Tripoli. There is news from Libya of a success which brings a stage nearer General Sir Claude Auchinleck’s aim—the total destruction of all the enemy armoured forces in Cyrenaica; More than 40 enemy tanks have been lost by General Rommel’s forces in a subsidiary encounter—22 entirely destroyed, and 20 severely damaged; Meanwhile the main enemy force is now pinned in an area between the sea and the hills east of Jedabaya. The enemy tanks were destroyed while the Axis forces manoeuvred for position' and before the main battle was joined. WEATHER VERY BAD It is stated authoritatively in London that the weather is still very bad and it is pointed out that this reacts more unfavourably on the British than on the enemy forces, as the bulk of our tanks are high and fast-moving machines which largely depend for their maximum efficiency on their normally very great . manoeuvrability. The majority of the German tanks, on the other hand, are large and heavy and their manoeuvrability is therefore less affected by bad weather. The Imperial forces in Libya who are closing in on the main body of the enemy troops along a wide sweeping curve of the Gulf of Sidra, are striving to pin General Rommel down for a final reckoning. Heavy Allied reinforcements are being brought up. The Italians have been scattered, and their general fighting ability has been destroyed, but the Germans still carry considerable hitting power. Their morale is good and they are apparently still prepared to fight to a finish. It is believed the Axis forces still number more than 60,000 men in spite of losses estimated at 70,000, including 30,000 captured.