TANK BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1942, Page 3

TANK BATTLE

NOW PROCEEDING IN LIBYA IN BLINDING SANDSTORM. SITUATION SHOWS LITTLECHANGE. LONDON, January 27. There is little change in the situation in Libya. The main tank battle is still going on in a blinding sandstorm in the desert. DANGEROUS MOVE GENERAL ROMMEL’S THRUST. A SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 26. “The Times” military correspondent says: “The phraseology of the latest Libyan communique does not conceal the fact that the Germans have advanced another 20 miles, making a total of about 150 from El Agheila. Slight consolation can be derived from the theory that ground in Cyrenaica does not matter. It matters very much if the ground holds advanced dumps of stores and supplies. Unfortunately, we Were not ready in time to get our blow in first, which counts for a great deal in this type of warfare. General Rommel, who received reinforcements, struck too quickly. It may be expected that the enemy will shortly be further reinforced from the convoy which reached Tripoli.” The “Daily Mail’s” Cairo correspondent says: “The situation in Cyrennaica is serious. Once again General Remmel is looking very dangerous. The speed of the German thrusts makes it virtually certain that some German transport is now running on British petrol, and some Axis troops are eating British rations. It is clearer with each campaign that Cyrenaica’s vital region is not the coast, but the desert inland. Jedabaya, Msus and Mekile are the important places, not Derna, Barce and Benghazi. The present issue will be fought out along this inner line, where there is not a drop of water and nothing is growing. General Rommel’s move is one of amazing daring. He left a safe defence line for the purpose of fighting in the open against a force whose size he could not know.”