ROMMEL’S FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1942, Page 3

ROMMEL’S FORCES

OUT IN GREATER STRENGTH IN LIBYA ENEMY COLUMN REFUSES ACTION. AIR ACTIVITY IN FORWARD AREA. LONDON, March 17. General Rommel's forces were out in greater strength in Libya today. A strong enemy column with tanks was located south-west of Gazala, but retired when our forces moved forward to engage it. Our aircraft were more than a match for enemy planes encountered in the forward area.

POSITION SURVEYED FACTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS. VALUE OF NEW BRITISH RAILWAY. CAIRO. March 16. While the successful Russian offensive on the southern front makes the German hopes of a thrust in the spring to the Caucasus grow daily less rosy, the other prong of the so-called Axis pincers —General Rommel’s army in Libya——has been blunted against the British line at Gazala. Rommel has massed forces in the 1 Jebel Akhdar region, while the British main line runs southward from Gazala. Both sides are resting after the gruelling fighting of the last month, and are busily building up their strength. The British are in much the better position to bring up supplies and reinforcements, because they have the advantage of shorter lines of communication and a desert railhead. This railway is important, and New Zealand and Indian construction companies are working hard to extend it. Rommel, on the other hand, has long and exposed lines of communication which are constantly harassed by our air forces. Though the two main armies have remained quiet, there has been daily patrol activity in which we have had decidedly the better of the exchanges. In the desert around Mekili there have been lively artillery duels. Air operations have been on an extensive scale, with the balance well in favour of the Royal Air Force.