ROMMEL STRONG

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 126, 30 May 1942, Page 7

ROMMEL STRONG

FORCES IN RESERVE

Tank Battle Over Maze Of Tracks United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, May 29. A cautious note is appearing in the reports of the Libyan battle, which is now in its fourth day. Reuter's Cairo correspondent says there is no attempt there to disguise the disappointing as well as the encouraging features in the shattering shell exchanges between the German and British tanks and between rival 50-pounder and 25-pounder field guns. The Daily Express military writer says too much optimism might lead to disappointment. Up to this morning the Eighth Army had done well. Every move by Rommel had been anticipated and successfully countered, but the tank battle would not be ended until the last machine was destroyed. Rommel has dangerous strength in the fighting area, and also a reserve. Tobruk is clearly his first objective. So far his progress has been poor, but a breakthrough is always possible in a tank versus tank battle. Therefore it is wiser not to anticipate that the battle is as good as won.

Reuter's Cairo correspondent reports that at Knightsbridge, north of Uir Hacheim, a tank battle is in progress around and over a maze of tracks which converge on this point, which is 30 miles south-west of Tobruk. The tracks converging on Knightsbridge are so confused that the battleground is as much compass country as open desert.

The Luftwaffe is still fairly inactive, and some reports suggest that Rommel is holding back many planes as well as tanks for heavy blows later.