BRITISH OBJECT

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21584, 21 November 1941, Page 5

BRITISH OBJECT

DESTRUCTION OF ARMY GREAT TRIAL OF STRENGTH FORCE WELL=EQUIPPED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrignt) (Received Nov. 21, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 20 Authoritative circles, commenting on the Libyan situation, say it is proceeding according to plan. This offensive has been long and elaborately prepared. We waited for nearly five months in order that the army should be well-equipped with all the weapons that have made their mark in this war. If in this case the enemy's armour is destroyed or seriously defeated and his air power dominated the plight of his infantry and artillery, crowded in the coastal regions, will evidently become serious. The object of the British and Empire offensive is not so much to occupy this or that locality but the destruction of the army and primarily the armoured forces of the enemy. One thing is certain. The British and Empire troops are animated by a long-pent-up and ardent desire to engage the enemy, feeling, as all do, that this is the first time we have met the Germans at least equally as well-armed. There is nothing in the world like the war conditions prevailing in the Libyan desert, in which swift and far-rang-ing movements are only possible by the extraordinary use of armour in air power or the power of mechanisation. The conditions in many respects - are like those of a sea war. An encounter, when achieved, is like a cla~h of ’fleets of flotillas, and, as in a sea battle, all may be settled one way or the other in the course of a few hours. All in Readiness For this purpose the army in the Western Desert took up a preliminary station on a broad front, and all was in readiness at nightfall on November 17. The rainfalls hampering the movement of our forces appear to have been far heavier in the coastal region than in the desert and may well prove more harmful to the enemy than to us. During November 18 our army made contact with enemy outposts at many points. It seemed certain that the enemy was completely surprised The Desert Army is now favourably situated for a trial of strength. It is evident that the next few days will see developments which will include many highly interesting features. It is not known whether this trial has actually begun, but evidently it cannot be long delayed. It is too soon to indulge in exultation. General Auchinleck has made a brilliant and successful strategic approach and has taken positions of marked advance. All depends on the battles which follow.

TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT CAMPAIGN IN LIBYA (Official Wireless) (Received Nov. 21, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 20 Further news of the support which the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force are giving the Empire forces which are advancing into Cyrenaica are contained in a Royal Air Force communique from the Middle East, which states: In close co-operation with the Imperial land forces our aircraft were in action over the frontier zone of the Western Desert throughout yesterday (Wednesday). Enemy tanks and motor transport moving westward along the CapuzzoSdllum road and in the Gambut, Sidi Azeiz, Bardia and, El Adam areas were heavily bombed. Four Junkers 88’s and two Messerschmitt 109’s were destroyed at Tmimi and other enemy aircraft were severely damaged. At Sidi Azeiz a Caproni bomber was destroyed on the ground, while an attack was carried out by fighter aircraft of the South African Air Force on an aerodrome at Sidi Azeiz, when several Italian fighters burst into flames and others were catching fire as our aircraft left. Enemy motor transport on the road from El Aghila was effectively machine-gunned, many vehicles being extensively damaged. During the night of Tuesday bomber aircraft raided Tripoli, where a power station and harbour installations were attacked. * Damage at Naples On the same night bombers raided Naples and Brindisi. At Naples hits were registered on docks and marshalling yards, and fires broke out in the dock area at Brindisi. From all these operations three of our aircraft are missing. HITLER’S NEW ORDER WANTS NORTH SEA COASTS (tJnlV'rt Press ,\ssn. —Klee. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 21, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 20 A Zurich message from Berlin says that official comment on Dr. Seyss Inquart’s statement on November 18 confirms that Hitler has decided that German’s new order in Europe shall include the Continental North Sea coasts as a constant German military zone, in order to render impossible any British and American influence in the future.