Evening star., 1942-06-23
WASHINGTON c. TUESDAY, JUNE %,
British Had Chance
To Defeat RommeI,
AuchinIeek Says
But 9th Army Wos So For
Spent Ii Could Not Give
Decisive Blow, He Reports
3, the Associated Press.


Decisive Blow, He Reports
3: the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 23.-Gen. Sir
Claude j. E. Auchinleck's official ac-
count of the fight for Libya declared
that it was battle to exhaustion
in which the British 9th Army
was too far spent to deliver q de-
cisive stroke at the one stage when
Gen. Field Marshal Edwin Rommel
had literally fought himself to a
standstill."
Gen. Auchinleck's account, read in
the House OF Commons today by
Clement Attlee in the absence OF
Prime Minister Churchill. said that
by the time the 9th Army was able
to counterattack In the key battle
Of the minefield gap west of Knights
bridge, the British ran into fierce
counter stroke" and suffered heavy
losses.
Text Of Report.
The report from the British COM
mander in the Near East said
AN enemy attack during the last
few days of May was expected and
preparations had been made ac-
cordingly. The 9th Army, on posi-
tions stretching from Ain ell Gabala
southwark to Bir Hacheim, was
waiting for this attack. The Royal
Air r;,,o
action about a week beforehand
The enemy's first attempt to en-
circle Bir Hacheim and our for
ward troops was met by our armored
forces in the Knightsbridge Ell Adem
area.
Most bitter fighting ensued in
which the enemy was constantly
attacked by our armored and air
forces. At first. things appeared to
be going we'll. The enemy, in spite
Of the gap he forced in our mine
field, was having difficulty with his
supplies and all our efforts, includ-
ing intense air attack. were devoted
to increasing his embarrassment.
This was probably the crucial
moment in the battle. The enemy
was exhausted and had literally
fought himself to a standstill.
Forward Post Established.
Had we been able to take ad
vantage Of the enemy's condition we
might have turned the scale. In
point of fact, however. we were
equally exhausted and this was i'm
possible. On June 3, the enemy sue
ceeded In overrunning the 150th
Brigade and established for himself
a forward post in our minefield area
In an attempt to restore the
position and drive him out. Gen
Ritchie counter-attacke on June 4
Our information available at the
time, the chances of success Of this
attempt seemed good and it was
preceded by adequate and careful
that 1t was, in fact. premature.
The enemy put in fierce coun-
ter-stroke in the face of which we
were forced to withdraw with con-
siderable losses. The enemy then
concentrated his attention on Biz
Hacheim which was garrisoned by
the Free French and already had
been subjected to heavy pressure
for a period of nine days.
Every effort was made to relieve
the pressure on this defended To-
cality by employment Of mobile
frnnnc
provided by the Raj In the event
however, Gen. Ritchie decided that
the risk of maintaining this isolated
garrison was too great and he ac-
cordingly decided withdrawal from
it June 10.
Enemy Delayed.
The Free Frenchmen defended
Bir Hacheim with the utmost te.
nacitv and endurance Their effort!
served to delay the enemy and tt
contain considerable enemy forces
With the fall of Bir Hacheim these
enemy forces were released and the
enemy pressed his attack in the
Knightsbridge-El Adem area.
Heavy fighting ensued and al
i though our troops and air force
fought with the greatest skill, three
days later we we're forced to aban-
don some positions at Knights.
bridge and open the way for the
enemy to break through to the
coast and to try to cut of the Is
South African and 50th Divisions ir
their positions south of Ain e
Gazala. Gen. Ritchie decided
rightly to withdraw these two divi
sions, an operation which was car
ried out with skill and was yer.
largely successful.
Under cover of our armorec
forces which held of the enemy
panzer divisions and. under the
covering protection which the RAJ
provided in spite of the fact thai
they were at the same time engaged
In protecting convoy to Malta, both
these divisions succeeded in joining
Gen. Ritchie to the east of Tobruk
The enemy then pressed his attack
in the Ell Adem area.
Fierce Battle Followed.
"A fierce battle ensued in which
he succeeded in establishing him.
self east of Ell Adem in the defend
ed local area at Sidi Rezegh. Fol
four days the enemy was held in the