RETREAT IN LIBYA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1942, Page 3

RETREAT IN LIBYA

ALLIED FORCES FALL BACK ON TOBRUK El Adem and Sidi Rezegh Evacuated MAIN BODY OF EIGHTH ARMY INTACT AND MOBILE ENEMY SLOW IN FOLLOWING UP FROM GAZALA LONDON, June 18. General Ritchie’s men have taken up positions for the defence of Tobruk and have evacuated El Adem and Sidi Rezegh. They are now actually in the perimeter of Tobruk, with the coast road to the east the only road still open. There is an atmosphere of intense watchfulness in Tobruk. The withdrawal of the British troops from El Adem and Sidi Rezegh leaves Tobruk more exposed to attack, but the evacuation must be kept in perspective. Once the Gazala line was made untenable it was obvious that our troops would have to fall back on Tobruk. This has been done satisfactorily. The outlook for the Allies is better now than it at one time seemed possible. The main force of the Eighth Army is intact and mobile, If the Germans had been quicker in following up the Allied withdrawal from Gazala there might have been a very different story to tell. Any direct assault on Tobruk would be severely harassed by General Ritchie’s mobile column, which is ranging the desert to the south-east of the fortress.