The Wanganui Chronicle. WEDNESDAY", DECEMBER 16, 1942. RETREAT WITHOUT FIGHTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 296, 16 December 1942, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. WEDNESDAY", DECEMBER 16, 1942. RETREAT WITHOUT FIGHTING

f^DMM EL’S retreat from El Agheila, on present showing, lias no counterpart in recent military history, ft is necessary to go back to General Younghusband’s expedition into Tibet to find a parallel for an army occupying a fortified position on terrain favourable for the defence but retreating from it without making use of the position at least to some important degree. It is naturally puzzling, to minds which, have grown accustomed to regarding Rommel as a highly-skilled tactician witli at least sufficient forces under his command which permitted of his attempting an attack upon Egypt, to discover reasons for this latest move. In such circumstances the most obvious answer is likely to be the correct one. The most obvious cause for Rommel’s precipitate retreat is that he hasn’t the strength to withstand the forthcoming attack upon a scale indicated by the preliminary reconnaissance in force. This preliminary move may have been so staged as to impress Rommel with the strength of the attackers and so carried the characteristics of a bluff or strategy: if this is so, then it came off to a degree which can be called complete success. The prepared-for attack by the Eighth Army was preceded by a softening process by the air forces engaged there. This robbed the Axis army of the fighter-umbrella which is so essential to desert warfare, and it may be that because of this handicap Rommel refused to engage his opponent. In this he showed wisdom. He had at his rear a terrain which is difficult to negotiate and a defeat at El Agheila would no doubt have led to the annihilation of his whole force. Discretion being the better part of valour, Rommel went back, despite the losses which this move must inevitably cost, for it was the best of a bad choice. But while Rommel can be said to have acted wisely it reveals one elemental fact, and that is he has not the superior force under his command as compared with his opponent. This is reassuring for the Eighth Army. The task of General Montgomery is to make sure that he doesn't get played into a position in which his superior strength will be modified or nullified. The terrain between El Agheila ami the next fortified line at Misrata is suitable for the lighting of rearguard actions with the use of a minimum of rearguard forces, ami this will doubtless enable Rommel to delay Montgomery’s advance. If time can be gained there is always a chance that a larger portion of the Luftwaffe can be withdrawn from Russia and used in Africa, which at least would be helpful to the Germans who are now so hard pressed. Rommel is now playing for time. His is the secondary or dictated role in the conflict. He is no doubt planning his defence with a view to what is developing in Tunisia, but even though he is to be given credit for an unusual degree of cunning, it is difficult to construct an appreciation of the North African scene in globo which does not place the Germans in a less favourable position than they were in a month ago, and far less than they would have been had they been able to make a stand at El Agheila.