MASTERPIECE OF STRATEGY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 34, 10 February 1941, Page 5

MASTERPIECE OF STRATEGY

THE ATTACK ON BENGHAZI BRITISH FORCES CAUGHT ITALIANS ON TWO FRONTS TANKS, SWIFTLY MOVING, ENABLED A FORK ATTACK (By Telegraph— Pres* Auociation —Copyright) Received Feb. 9, 6.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 8. Messages from Cairo emphasise how General Sir Archibald \\ avell's strategy in sending the Australians along the coast road, while armoured units forked south from Tobruk to Mekili, applied the eoup-dc-graee to Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya). The Italian resistance at Mekili was overcome after two days. Armoured units, then, without using the radio in order not to reveal their positions, struck out for Benghazi. Some distance before they reached the town they turned south and reached the coastline below Benghazi, cutting communications with the rest of Libya. The whole of this movement was timed to synchronise with the arrival of the Australians outside Benghazi. Ihe plan worked perfectly. The defenders of Benghazi faced an enemy on both fionts and retreat was cut off.

A special Headquarters communique regarding the operations leading to the. capture of Benghazi, states that a British armoured formation made a forced march of 15(1 miles in 30 hours, brushing aside resistance en route, to elose the enemy’s last line of retreat. Surprised by the speed of this brilliant exploit, the enemy, endeavouring to withdraw from Benghazi, found themselves hemmed in. Enemy armoured forces, which were numerically superior, supported by infantry and artillery, then made a determined effort to break through our cordon. Every effort was repulsed with heavy’loss to the enemy. After 60 of their tanks had become battle casualties. the enemy ceased fighting and prisoners surrendered in large numbers. They included an army commander, a corps commander, and many other senior officers. Quantities of war material of al! descriptions were also captured. It was announced from Cairo later that the army commander captured was the officer commanding the whole of Cyrenaica and second to Marsha. Graziani.

News from Benghazi is still scanty. It is not yet known how many remain of the two Italian divisions recently encamped around the town, but British uniforms, seen to-day in the

; a.m-line avenue of Benghazi, provide the inhabitants with evidence of the defeat of the Italian forces. Still Pressing On. The British armoured cclaein which cut off the Italian retreat from Benghazi has now reached the coast between Soluk, an important road and rail junction 60 miles southward of Benghazi, and Jedaba, where the coast road meets three roads from the interior. Cleaning up is proceeding in these areas. British armoured units are believed to be pressing on towards the Gulf of Sidra, where SOO miles of desert between Cyreniaca and Tripolitania begins.

When the Cyrenaican campaign is reviewed the astonishing role played by tanks becomes clear. They charged forward hundreds of miles, taking one point after another completely by surprise. The surprise factor was particularly effective in the southern Mekili prong, which stabbed the Italian communications southward of Benghazi and with the northern line which encircled the town. The capture of Benghazi was a master-stroke of strategy, comparable with Sidi Barrani. The Italians expected the attack from the coastal road, through most difficult country, hut, instead, tanks swept across barren, waterless desert from Mekili. along tracks only used by occasional caravan, thus attacking Benghazi from Ihe east long before the Italians expected the onslaught.

R.A.F. In Dominating Role. The Times' aeronautical correspon-j dent says that the R.A.F. redominated j the position to such an extent that I British troops were almost completely free from air attack as they ad-' vanced to Benghazi, suggesting that I the Italians decided some time ago j that Benghazi could not be held, i Therefore, they would not sacrifice i more aircraft for a lost cause. Bri-1 tish fighters, operating over the fort I a few hours before the troops marched in, found not a single enemy machine. Received Feb. 9, 6.30 p.m. CAIRO, Feb. 8. A headquarters communique states: • "In Libya operations south of Benghazi are proceeding satisfactorily. In the Keren area (Eritrea) our pressure is increasing, while further south our troops are continuing the pursuit of the enemy withdrawing towards Arreza. which is about 75 miles south of Keren and 60 miles southwest of As.mara. Along the toad to Gondar (Abyssinia) our mobile units are pressing forward. Penetration ot Italian Somaliland by our patrols is successfully continuing. South Africans in Kenya captured a strong post at Gorai. 20 miles inside Abyssinia, routing the enemy. King's Message to Army of Nile The King has sent a message to Sir Archibald Wavell. "The capture of Benghazi, a notable landmark in the campaign in North Africa, was carried out with such brilliance by you and the troops under your command, in conjunction with the Royal Navy and R.A.F. I warmly congratulate ail ranks and the Army of the Nile and sister services on this further success, which ranks high in the military annals of the British Empire.”

UNITED STATES IMPRESSED BRITISH * BLITZ” TACTICS TERRIFIC STRIKING POWER Received Feb. 8, 5.5 p.m. WASHNGTON, Feb. 7. Senator Josh Lee, military commilteeman, said that the British and Australian in Africa, culminating in the capture of Benghazi, had greatly strengthened the Empire's position throughout the world, and had “done much to dispel any defeatist attitude in Congress or the country.” “Britain’s brilliant successes demonstrate her terrific striking power once she gets the feel of battie,' he said. | "Churchill warned Mussolini that [Britain would smash his Empire to ' bits if he entered the war. We are now seeing that happening. The I Africa campaign demonstrates that Britain is fully capable of ‘blitzkreig’ I tactics, which will also be used i against Continental Europe when the I right time arrives.” ITALIANS ADMIT THE FATE OF BENGHAZI EVACUATION DECIDED ON . Received Feb. 9, 6.40 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 8. An Italian communique admits the British occupation of Benghazi after a j fierce battle south of the town in j which an Italian force suffered grave losses. [ It adds that Benghazi was evacuat- [ ed in order to spare the population I hardship. The Italian radio says the i capture of Benghazi has only senti- ■ mental value and is of no strategical importance or any importance in relation to the final result.

ACTIVE R.A.F. BOMBING MIDDLE EAST OBJECTIVES LITTLE OPPOSITION [ British CiMeial Wireless. J Received Feb. 9, 6.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 8. An R.A.F. Middle Bast communique says that in Libya bombing aircraft of the R.A.F. carried out raids on Benghazi, Berka and Jedabya on the night of Wednesday and early on Thursday. Several tons of bombs were dropped and considerable damage was caused, including one enemy aircraft destroyed by a direct hit. "Our fighters continued offensive patrols, during which machine-gun attacks were made on the aerodrome at Benina. A number of enemy bombers on the ground were damaged at Benghazi. Our fighters patrolled, without encountering any opposition, Italian East Africa. Aircraft of the South African Air Force squadron, while on patrol near Asmara, encountered a number of enemy fighters and shot down two. Other aircraft of the same squadron machine- [ gunned the aerodrome at Bahraar, destroying three CA 133’s on the [ ground and causing a large petrol fire.

“Keren was again raided by our bombers and hits were registered on the railway and military buildings. “Bombs also dropped on a large transport yard at Assab. “Military objectives west of Tepe-

GERMANS REPORT RAID ON MALTA

leni (Albania) and the Krahad area were bombed yesterday, and direct hits on military stores and motor transport concentrations were observed. This raid was carried out in very bad weather. All the British aircraft returned safely.”

Received Feb. 9, 6.40 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 8. The German news agency states that waves of German bombers attacked aerodromes and the harbour at Malta, and hits were observed.