REVERSES IN LIBYA

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21758, 18 June 1942, Page 3

REVERSES IN LIBYA

COMMENT BY PRESS

CRITICAL DAYS AHEAD

(Official Wireless) (Received June 18, 11 a.m.) RUGBY', June 17 While it is acknowledged in London that the armoured lorces of the Eighth Army have suffered reverses tnere is tnankfulness that it has sur-; vived the critical weeks which might l have brought the enemy more sue- j cess than ne has actually gained. Althougn no doubt is felt that fur- j ther critical days are still ahead j there is equally no doubt that the, enemy’s second attempt to annihilate! part of the British forces has tailed. | Summing up the latest phase of the j battle the Manchester Guardian says: "General Rommel will now tackle Tobruk, perhaps by a frontal assault, combined with another sweep towards the sea east of Ei Adem, cutting the road wnich feeds our army and Tobruk from the east. Each side has long communications, so that the most profitable line oi attack is always an outflanking thrust from the south to the north against them. We have successfully exploited it twice and the Axis once. There can be no surprise about it, but also there seems no certain answer to a tank attack, even when it is expected.” Fate of Tobruk The seriousness of the situation in Libya is empnasised by the London newspapers. "It is undeniable that we have suffered a very serious reverse,” says the Daily Telegraph's military correspondent. "It is doubtful whethei we can maintain any defensive position west of Solium. Whether we

shall attempt to hold Tobruk as an isolated outpost remains to be seen. Rrobably we shall decide not to do so.” The Times military critic describes the situation as ugly. The Express’ military correspondent says: "Something has gone wrong. General Rommel has made dangerous gains and more British reverses are inevitable. The factors which seem to account for this ai least temporary turn in the tide are. (1) Air superiority was wrestea from the Royal Air Force; (2) General Rommel’s preponderance oi heavy tanks; (3) General Rommel’s many 88-mm guns, which are heaviei than any field piece we possess. "These factors gave General Rommel superior fire-power, which he kept concealed uniil he was able t«. exploit it to the maximum by surprise. We must hope that General Kommel so dissipates his strength that no further advance is possible this summer. The fact remains, however, that the battle is no longei on equal terms.” ,