Late News

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 37, 7 November 1942, Page 8

Late News

CHASE AFTER ENEMY Critical Phase Now At Hand AFRIKA EORPS NOT YET CRUSHED (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.* (Received November 7, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 6. According ’to the latest reports reaching field headquarters, the retreating Axis forces are already west of Sidi Haneish, just southeast of Mersa Matruh, says the British United Press correspondent, Richard McMillan. Our infantry, with wrecking gangs, are clearing aside smashed enemy vehicles along the route and are already well beyond Fuka. The enemy is running so fast it is becoming a race to get our installed to keep up with him. Fires from burning lorries dot the horizon for miles around, marking the line of retreat. They represent a good part of Rommel’s equipment gone up in smoke. Intelligence reports indicate that • the Axis collapse was caused by lack of petrol and oil for its armoured force’s, as. a result of which scores are now lying silent between El Alamein and Fuka.

The enemy is poisoning water supplies as he is retreating, but our forces have scores of water purifiers. Water is expected to prove a serious problem for the enemy. The Mutual Broadcasting System s Cairo correspondent, says: “The core of' the Axis desert war machine, the Afrika Korps, is still alive and. able to fight back. Probably the most critical phase of the British offensive.is now at hand.” The Columbia Broadcasting System s war correspondent says there is still heavy lighting ahead if we are to overtake and crush the Afrika Korps which is moving west fast and steadily in a single armoured block, ringed with heavy guns. A Cairo report states that a mixed force of heavy bombers last night raided Maleme aerodrome in Crete. The coastal road between Fuka and El Daba, along which Rommel’s broken forces are retreating, was also bombed, as well as beaches alongside the road, which was crowded with enemy transport and tanks. . . Vichy radio says that the British Naw is also shelling the road. The New York “Herald-Tribune says: “The British, victory in Egypt is incontestable, though the full proportions have yet to appear, and the Germans still may make a stand, but never before on either side lias this theatre yielded so many elements of total success as now. In British hands, the Battle of Egypt may be a prelude to a greater combination against the Axis, which has always faced the narrow line between victory and defeat, and is now shaken to its foundations. With Alexandria in Axis hands, a ten years’ war might not be enough to beat Hitler, but with Alexandria out of reach, his whole combination, embracing the Middle East, the invasion of India, and junction with the Japanese collapses.” '•

Implications of Victory “The victory in Egypt may be tlie end of the Axis foothold in Africa, making Malta an offensive base and also exposing Sicily to attack,_ and thus forcing the Germans to maintain a great, garrison there,” says the New York “Herald-Tribune's” correspondent, Major Eliot. . “The Mediterranean may soon be open lo our convoys, eliminating the long pull round the Cape of Good Hope, and relieving the Allied navies of responsibilities. Furthermore, the North Atlantic and the Pacific will benefit almost immediately. "America may well lie gratified at this victory won by tlie British Command and the British Army, because Jatelv there has been too much irresponsible and ill-informed criticism of British fighting qualities and capacity for command. Some critics, at least those who have an open mind, now stand confounded.”. The Ankara correspondent of tlie Associated Brass of America says that' according lo information from Greece, the Germans are desperately attemjiting to reinforce Rommel. About. 500 transport planes are being used to rush troops to Africa. Troops have been withdrawn from the Russian front and from near Athens.