STEADY PACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1942, Page 3

STEADY PACE

OF THE BRITISH PURSUIT IN LIBYA PROBLEMS OF TRANSPORT & SUPPLY. ■' '""'LL—"TDO ENEMY GETTING AWAY AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY, November 17. The British pursuit of the remnants of Rommel’s army through Central Cyrenaica has continued at the steady pace of some 20 to 30 miles daily. The enemy are doing what they can to hinder the British advance, by rearguard actions and the laying of mines in their tracks. Since the Battle of El Alamein the enemy evidently have concentrated all their efforts on getting away as fast and as far as possible. For this purpose elements in the rear had to start early, before the pursuit was anywhere near them, though even so they have not escaped air attacks as they have gone round the Gulf of Sirte. Hitherto the enemy, by their headlong flight, have been able to keep just clear of the head of the British pursuit, which, though not in immediate contact with them, is keeping in touch. In these circumstances it does not appear that there are any enemy forces in Cyrenaica that can be called a main body. The Axis troops seem to be strung out along all the roads and tracks leading westward, between Jebel Akhdar and the Gulf of Sirte. The Eighth Army has covered over 400 miles in a fortnight and this immensely rapid movement involves considerable effort in getting up supplies adequate not only for the maintenance of the army, but for the continuance of the pursuit over further vast distances. Although Tobruk is in our hands, it has been so damaged by our bombers that some time will elapse before it can be of much service as a supply port for the Army.