DRIVE TOWARDS CAUCASUS

Southland Times, Issue 24757, 30 May 1942, Page 5

DRIVE TOWARDS CAUCASUS

PURPOSE OF ATTACK IN LIBYA (8.0.W.) RUGBY, May 28. Military commentators express the view that Field-Marshal Rommel’s thrust in Libya reinforces the opinion that the German drive this year will be made towards the Caucasus. It is assumed that the Axis can afford to wait no longer before attempting the conquest of the Middle East, which is widely believed to be the objective of their 1942 campaign. Evidently the thrust in Libya could hardly be. postponed much longer if it is to assist the Germans in their effort to break through in southern Russia. A further motive of the offensive is very likely the urgent need to encourage the flagging spirits of the German and Italian population. Probably the Germans hope to exploit their skill in mechanized offensive tactics in the theatre which it should be easier for them to reinforce than for the United Nations owing to' the disparity in distance from supply bases. News of this renewed battle in Libya is awaited in Britain with a confidence based on the previous achievements of Lieutenant-General Ritchie’s Eighth Army in both offence and defence. There is, however, no attempt in the Press to conceal the gravity of the threat. It is appreciated that substantial reinforcements must have reached the Axis forces during the past few months and it is thought that the enemy has been waiting to build up the largest possible force with copious supplies indispensable for desert warfare before starting their offensive. It is pointed out in other reports

that the British line from Gazala on the coast to Bir Hacheim is not a line in the ordinary sense but consists of clusters of men and material. Indeed, the British dispositions here are one of the finest examples of defence in depth. They consist of three lines about 150 miles in depth. The first line consists of die series of strong points covering Tobruk, the second runs south-west from Bardia and follows the Italian line, the third follows the old British position from Bardia. It is the strongest of the three and constitutes a formidable obstacle to the invasion of Egypt. _____