CAUTION URGED

Southland Times, Issue 24758, 1 June 1942, Page 5

CAUTION URGED

Dangerous German Strength (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 29. A cautious note is appearing in reports of the Libyan battle, which is sow in its fourth day. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says ( there is no attempt to disguise the disappointing, as well as the encouraging, Features in the shattering shell exchanges between rival German and British tanks and between the rival 50□ounders and 25-pounder field-guns. The military writer of The Daily Express says too much optimism might lead to disappointment. Up to Inis morning the Bth Army has done well. Field-Marshal Rommel’s every move has’been anticipated and successfully countered, but a tank battle has ended till the last machine is knocked out. Field-Marshal Rommel has dangerous strength in the fighting area, also in reserve. Tobruk was clearly the first objective. So far the enemy’s progress has been poor, but a break-through is always possible in a tank versus tank battle. Therefore, it is wiser not to anticipate that the battle is as good as won. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent reports that the Knightsbridge tank battle is progressing around and over a maze of tracks which converge on this point, which is 30 miles south-west of Tobruk. The tracks converging on Knightsbridge are confused. The Luftwaffe is still fairly inactive. Some reports suggest that Field-Marshal Rommell is holding back many planes, as well as tanks, for heavy blows later. SUPPLY COLUMNS ATTACKED Military opinion is that the majority af the enemy armoured units are concentrated round Knightsbridge, 20 miles south-west of Tobruk. They are being engaged by British forces and the result of the operations is not yet known. Mention of enemy forces at El Adem and Sidi Rezegh, respectively south and south-east of Tobruk, is not interE' d as a retirement from Bir Hacor Gazala. A statement which, it is considered, may prove of great significance, is that British armoured units successfully attacked enemy supply columns—which are necessarily in the rear of their attacking units. The position of the British Forces is described by an Agency correspondent as being not unsatisfactory. Despite Axis infiltration behind the British lines

at no point has the line been broken and the desperate enemy attacks south of El Adem have been repelled with I heavy losses by British mobile artillery. I Free French forces destroyed 35 out i of an attacking force of 70 tanks of die I Italian Arriete Division. Throughout the whole battle there , has been perfect co-operation between i the Royal Air Force and the land forces, ■ while Axis air activity has been on a ' small scale. The number of vehicles destroyed by the Royal Air Force since the battle began runs into many hun‘kfus estimated that 250 enemy tanks came round the British southern positions but the fact that the 15th Panzer Division went as far as Sidi Rezegh and withdrew indicates that heavy losses have been sustained. It is au'noritatively stated that the Libyan battle centres at Knightsbridge, but the British Forces are still at Bir Hacheim and Gazala. Every position is potentially menaced in this type of warfare but the result of the battle will probably not be known for a day or two. FieldMarshal Rommel thus far does not appear to have accomplished anything which General Auckinleck and Lieut-enant-General Ritchie would not have anticipated.