LIBYAN BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1942, Page 3

LIBYAN BATTLE

MR CHURCHILL SURVEYS POSITION DETAILS OF BRITISH & ENEMY LOSSES. EPIC DESERT STRUGGLE. - (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, January 27. Referring to Libya, Mr Churchill stated: “We therefore approved General Auchinlech’s plans for building up a delaying force ’ in the vast regions from Cyprus to the Caspian Sea onwhat I may call the Levant-Caspian front) and the preparing of installations, air fields and communications upon which a larger force could be based when the time for transpoit allowed. On the western flank we prepared to set upon General Rommel and try to make a good job of him. For the sake of this battle on the Libyan desert we concentrated everything we could lay our hands on and we submitted to a very long delay—very painful to bear for us here—that all preparations would be perfected. We hoped to recapture Cyrenaica, including vital airfields around Benghazi, but General Auchinleck’s main objective was more simple —he set himself to destroy General Rommel’s army. Such was the mood in which we stood three or four months ago. Such is the broad strategic decision we took. Now, when we see how events mocked and falsified human effort and design and shaped themselves, I am very sure this was the right decision.” The Prime Minister continued: “For more than two months in the desert a most fierce and continuous battle raged between scattered bands of men armed with the latest weapons, seeking each other dawn after dawn, fighting in the desert throughout the day and often long into the night. Here was a battle which turned out very differently from what was foreseen. All dispersed and confused, much depended on the individual soldier and the junior officer, much, but not all, because this battle would have been lost on December 24 last if General Auchinleck had not assumed command and ordered the ruthless pressure of the attack to be maintained without regard to risks or consequences. But for this robust decision, we should now be back on the old line from which we started or perhaps further back. Tobruk would possibly have fallen 'and General Rommel would be marching towards the Nile. Cyrenaica has been regained. It has still to be held. “We have not succeeded in destroying General Rommel’s army but near-, ly two-thirds of it is wounded, prisoner or dead,” said Mr Churchill. “In this strange battle of the desert, where our men met the enemy for the first time on. equal terms, we lost in killed, wounded and captured about 18,000 officers and men, of whom the greater part were British. We have in our possession 36,500 prisoners, including many wounded, of whom 10,000 are Germans. We killed or wounded at least 11,500 Germans and 13,000 Italians and in all, the total accounted for exactly amounts to 61,000 men. There is also a mass of enemy wounded, some of which have been evacuated to the rear or to the sea. Of the forces of which General Rommel disposed on November 18, little more than a third now remain. Eight hundred and fifty two German and Italian aircraft have been destroyed and 386 German and Italian tanks. During this battle we never had more than 45,000 men against an enemy force, if they could be brought to bear, of much more than double as strong. Therefore, it seems to me that this heroic epic struggle in the desert, although there have been many reverses —local reverses —tested our manhood in a searching fashion and proved not only that our men can die for their King and country—everyone knew that—but that they can kill.”