DRIVE TO SEA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 December 1942, Page 4

DRIVE TO SEA

' AFTER DETOUR THROUGH LIBYAN DESERT BRITISH OUTFLANKING ACHIEVEMENT. I 1 MOST DAMAGING BLOW STRUCK. (British Official’ Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) RUGBY, December 17. Though the size and strength the enemy force cut off some 60 miles west of El Agheila is not yet known in London, correspondents at Cairo report that it includes a considerable portion of Rommel’s armoured units and that the personnel is mainly German. A 8.8. C. t observer says it is known that Rommel had placed his best fighting units in his tail during the retreat from El Agheila. Wadi Matratin, where a strong Allied column of all arms reached the sea, after making a detour of about 100 miles through uncharted desert, is a dry water course running at right angles from the coast and is crossed not only by the coastal road but by a secondary road, ten miles inland, that loops to the south from the main road at Ras El Aali, 20 miles west of El Agheila. It would appear from the Cairo communique that the Eighth Army is now astride both of these roads. The position obviously is very serious for the enemy, who is reported to be. making violent attempts to break out of the trap, and in doing so, is suffering heavy losses. The Allied air forces are also increasing these losses. The 8.8. C observer remarks that with the news of the cutting in two of Rommel’s army, the great deal of mystery surrounding the movements of the Eighth Army suddenly becomes clear. He continues: “For several days past this column of . ours has been on the move round the enemy’s flank, while the army talked glibly of the slowness of its advance and of its difficulties with minefields, booby traps and supply difficulties. The R.A.F. has cooperated vigorously in keeping the enemy reconnaissance <planes out of the sky.” , . „ . Meanwhile the main forces of the Eighth Army, which have not yet been engaged, are still in the Marble Aich area, pressing on the enemy rear. Great use is being made of giant aircraft, according to an agency correspondent who says that 70 of them landed on Monday at a toward landing ground, carrying a vaiety of vital supnlies It ‘is officially stated that the R.A.F. destroyed two enemy fighters this afternoon. » . * . Mean-while the Allied air forces have Intensified their attacks in the battle area. The main target was the fleeing enemy column in the vicinity ot Nofilia, 90 miles west of El Agheila. These planes strafed the Germans who passed before the Eighth Army cut the Axis forces in two. Relays of fighters, fighter-bombers and light and medium bombers morning and afternoon gave the Germans no rest. Among the objectives were semi-permanent roadside defences for the protection of the withdrawing Germans. A single stick of bombs, in some cases, wiped out these defences and also traffic on the road Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says the British force .which split Rommel s army made a dash of over 100 miles, through sand dunes, to reach the coast road near Wadi Matratin. Other units of the Eighth Army advanced rapidly to the neighbourhood of Marble Aren, which is about 15 miles east of the force near Wadi Matratin, thus reducing the Germans’ manoeuvring space. There was a bitter struggle, as the encircled enemy force, which is reported to include one panzer division, tried to hack its way westward. To bypass El Agheila it was necessary to swing at least 30 miles south and then to creep westwards over ground broken by, wadis along barely discernible desert trails,, reports., the British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Amy. Our force raced against time over this broken and arid country, while the enemy, becoming aware of what we were doing, attempted to withdraw, it was a gigantic task to supply the outflanking force with food, water, ammunition and petrol. According to another message correspondent state that, the British flank attack was made while the enemy retreat was in full swing. The British forces, they state, have cut off as much as 20 miles of the Axis columns.