Evening star., 1942-03-23
British, Axis Prepare
To Renew Large-Sca|e |
Warfare in Libya
ltoIions Bring Fresh
Armored Unit Across
Mediterranean
BY WILLIAM McGAFFIN,

WITH BRITISH 9th ARMY IN
LIBYA, March 23.-Though two Of
the hottest months of the year lie
ahead, the british and Axis armies
facing each other across 50-mile
no-man's land dotted with spring
flowers and wrecked tanks-are
stepping up preparations for re-
sumption of large-scale warfare.
When the first blow will fall and
who will strike 1t is matter Of
speculation.
From a military point OF view,
June, July and August are the best
months in which to launch a cam
paign in this land, afflicted In other
seasons with teeming rains, intense
heat or choking sand storms.
Fresh Armored Forces Arrive.
1t Is known, however, that the
italians have succeeded in bringing
at least part of a fresh armored
division across the Mediterranean
and observers recall only too we'll
that German Field Marshal Erwin
Rommel launched his big offensive
last year in April-in weather which
the Germans themselves admitted
was "frightful."
Preparations which the British
have made for an expected renewal
Of heavy fighting and the strength
Of additional mechanical forces
they have marshaled is, Of course, a
military secret, but their leaders are
confident OF their ability to cope
with whatever the Axis may have
in the field.
Mai. Clement Attlee. domin-
ions secretary, said yesterday in
Liverpool that 800 ships had been
in continuous service the past
year carrying more than 100000
tons OF material and 10000 motor
vehicles from Britain to the i'm
perial armies in the Eastern
Mediterranean
Spectacular British Foray.
This confidence was demonstrated
by q spectacular foray in which
British mobile columns, using both
British and American tanks. bat
tered Axis positions in the Tmimi-
Martuba sector Friday and Satur-
day, killing an undisclosed number
Of enemy troops and returning to
their lines near Ain El Gazala with
$50 prisoners.
The raid. which represented a
thrust of 80 to 20 miles through
mine territory, was the most
important since the British with
drew to Ain Ell Gazala six weeks ago.
British planes supported the drive
bombing and strating airdromes
which also were shelled from the
ground.
The present line from which the
British are operating runs from Ain
Ell Gazala, 40 miles west OF Tobruk
on the coast, to Bir Hacheim, some
so miles inland.
The position was chosen because
the plateaus and gulleys-known
here as escarpments and wadis-are
ideal for defense and provide ad-
mirable gun emplacements. The
shortness of the line simplifles COM
munication and supply problems.
Main Defense Line Mined.
Mine fields run the length OF the
front, forming the main line OF
defense. Behind these are barbed
wire and narrow silt" trenches
shallow bitches banked with sand
bags.
For the most part these bitches
are used as air raid shelters. The
troops do not live in them constantly
as they did in the World War.
The men of the armored forces
live In pup tents pitched beside
their tanks when not in action. and
the staff ofIicers have their quar-
ters in trucks equipped with tables,
chairs. field telephones and short
wave wireless sets.
Still farther back is a long series
Of camps, or "leaguers," and be-
tween these, spaced at intervals
equal to a city block, are vehicles
half buried In the sand as air raid
shelters.
Far in the rear are the airdromes,
quickly made by scraping clumps
of sand and grass from the tough
desert floor.
The air now is sweet with the
scent Of gay red poppies and yellow
and blue wild flowers which sprinkle
the wadis.
Sometimes in the morning there
Is blood on these howers-but the
desert wind and sand quickly oblit-
crate 1t.