Evening star., 1942-05-28
Axis Forces Drive
No Breok-Throueh,
English Declare
See Map Page Al.
By EDWARD KENNEDY,

Associated Press War Correspondent.
CAIRO, Egypt, May 2s.-The
sudden Axis offensive eastward
in the Libyan desert has driven
within IS miles Of the key Brit
ish defensive stronghold Of To-
bruk, despite being repulsed at
both flanks, 1t was disclosed to-
day.
This indicated an advance Of
about 80 miles past the British for
ward defense line, which stretched
between Bir Hacheim and Ain Ell
GaSAla.
The drive apparently started from
the base at Ell Mechili, back Of the
Axis line extending southwest into
the desert from the vicinity OF
Tmimi
An r. A. r. communique dis
closed the depth Of these thrusts
by Marshal Erwin Rommel's Ger
man. italian tanks. It said the Brit
ish flyers bombed the enemy ar
mored forces throughout Wednes-
day in the Ell Adem and Bir Hach-
elm areas.
Ell Adem is Is miles south of To-
bruk; Bir Hacheim so miles south
west.
Penetration Minimized.
An authoritative British statement
was issued later stating that the
enemy's presence in the El Adem
area was not Of great significance
and did not mean a break
through" since in the nature of
desert fighting there was no defense
line in the usual sense
An earlier British Army COM
munique said the Axis attacks were
In four main columns, and that one
directly before Bir Hacheim and
another south of Ain el Gazala,
which is 80 miles west Of Tobruk,
had been repulsed with heavy cas-
ualties.
Between these extremities two
other Axis columns were being heav-
lily engaged, with results as yet un-
determined, the army communique
said.
The r. A. F. announcement placed
these forces even deeper than the
army had intimated but said the
all-day bombings had wrecked many
transport vehicles. The r. A. r.
planes also ranged widely in smash
ing attacks on airdromes and bases
behind the enemy lines and IN
fighting of Axis air attacks shot
down II enemy planes while los
ing 4.
Tobruk Apparent Goal.
The main German italian thrust
apparently was aiming directly to-
ward Tobruk, which the British have
held against all vicissitudes since
their first offensive into Libya in the
winter Of 1901.
Ono real offensive can be
mounted in the desert unless the
attacking force holds both
Bengasi and Tobruk," said an
informed source in London)
The battles, which began with the
sudden Axis advance late Tuesday
night, were being fought over a wide
area, as the tanks OF both sides
ranged the desert wastes like war
ships at sea.
Overhead. the R. A. F. intercepted
Axis air raids on British ground
forces and continuously attacked
enemy transport.
Gondon quarters, noting no
mention Of infantry, predicted
that Marshal Rommel soon would
be forced to use all his armored
forces. If he has not already done
30. These include one italian
and three German divisions. He
also has four italian motorized
infantry divisionsD
Let 'Em Come" Troops Say.
As the Axis offensive began, oddly,
with the approach Of the desert hot
season, the reaction of British SOL
diers manning the tanks and gun
emplacements was Let 'em come"
Since it is the destruction of the
enemy's armored equipment rather
than the winning of ground that
counts in this desert warfare the
result may surprise the Axis chief
tains, they said.
The action thus far leaves Mar
shal Rommel's strategy in doubt.
Military circles, however, inclined
to the belief that his immediate OBJ
jective really is Tobruk, and that
the thrust at Bir Ell Hacheim is a
feint designed to darw British
strength away from the coast.