FLUID BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1942, Page 4

FLUID BATTLE

STILL BEING FOUGHT OUT IN LIBYA EIGHTH ARMY MAKING DISPOSITIONS. TO MEET DEVELOPMENTS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, June 15. A Cairo communique states: “Heavy fighting continues. The enemy is attacking our positions near Acroma, in attempts to isolate the troops remaining in the Gazala salient. The battle has become fluid, with the Germans attacking northwards from Trigh-Ca-puzzo and our mobile forces in turn attacking their rear from the south. The enemy has been cleared from eastwards of El Adem.. The. Eighth Army is counter-attacking vigorously and is in process of adjusting its dis- 1 positions to meet developments. TANKS & GUNS APPROXIMATE EQUALITY REACHED. GERMANS NOW USING FULL AIR POWER. (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, June 15. The “Daily Express,” reviewing the results of the three weeks Libyan campaign, says: “Both sides are now much weaker in armour, but they are still approximately equal. The Germans have more heavy tanks, but our mobile guns restore the balance. The .Germans are at last putting in their full air power. One of the battle’s greatest mysteries is why Rommel did not use the Luftwaffe at the start. He is now using alljiis land and air strength simultaneously. “The British are believed to be numerically inferior in the air, taking account of bombers, fighters, Stukas, tank-busters and all other types. The Germans certainly have more bombers. We certainly have more fighters. We also have an advantage in the quality of our airmen, who are taking bigger risks without suffering bigger losses.” Major Oliver Stewart, who is the “Daily Express” air observer,, says events in Libya, especially the fall of Bir Hacheim, direct attention once again to the merits of the dive-bomber. Reuter’s correspondent on the French frontier says the news of the Free French stand at Bir Hacheim spread like wildfire through France and stirred the French people to the heart. Details of the exploit were received in towns and villages by short wave wireless, which escapes the systematic German jamming of news from abroad. All France learned the news in an incredibly short time. NEWS FROM LIBYA LATEST REGARDED AS BAD. CONTINUED AXIS THREAT TO TOBRUK. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, June 15. The latest reports from Cairo tonight emphasise that the Libyan situation has serious aspects for the Allied forces. The “Express” military correspondent states that last night's news from Libya is bad. In plain words General Rommel has moved faster and more strongly than was anticipated. The British have not yet commented on the Italian claim that they have reached the coast between Gazala and Tobruk. The Italians admitted that they advanced only after bloody fighting. Some quarters interpret phrases in today’s communique—“troops remaining in the Gazala salient” and “adjusting their disposition to meet developments” as meaning that a withdrawal from Gazala is contemplated if it is not yet already in progress. Reports from Cairo say that the British and German tank losses were both very heavy and that the battle between armoured units between Acroma and Knightsbridge is reaching a climax, after four days of heavy fighting. Last night the Allies retained the Acroma box, w’hich has been heavily assaulted during the past four days. While the Acroma, El Adem and Gazala positions are held, Tobruk is regarded as safe. The Axis forces, however, are stubbornly holding on south of Tobruk, where they have held their ground despite repeated Allied tank, artillery and air assaults.