Evening star., 1942-01-27


IiniSter ChurchilPs speech in
army Of 10 German and italian di-
visions entrenched at and behind
Halfaya, was preparing to make a
decisive attack upon Tobruk pre-
Egypt from the west.
The Nile Valley, therefore, was
menaced simultaneously by attack
from the west and by more remote
but in some ways more deadly at
tack from the north.
We therefore approved Gen. Sir
Claude ]. E. Auchinleck's plans for
building up action by delaying
forces in the vast region from Cyprus
to the Caspian Sea.
On the other fank-the western
fiank-we prepared to meet Rommel.
We hoped to recapture Cyrenaica
and the important airfields around
Bengasi. But Auchinleck's main OBJ
jective was more simple. He set
himself to destroy Rommers army.
Auchinleck Credited
With Saving Libya.
For more than two months in the
desert the most fierce continuous
battle has ragged between scattered
bands Of men armed with the latest
weapons, seeking each other dawn
after dawn and fighting to the death
day after day and even long into the
night
This was a battle which turned out
very different from what had been
foreseen.
This battle would have been lost
on November "a if Auchinleck had
not intervened. changed command
and ordered the ruthless pressure of
the attack to be maintained without
regard for consequences.
But for this robust decision we
should have been back on our line,
Tobruk would probably have fallen,
and Rommel would probably have
marched toward the Nile.
Cyrenaica is regained. It has still
to be held. We have not succeeded
In destroying Rommel's army, but
nearly two-thirds of 1t are wounded,
prisoners or dead.
In this strange, somber battle of
the desert, where our men met the
enemy for the first time on equal
terms. We have lost in killed and
captured about $1,000 officers and
men, OF whom the greater part are
British.
6,1OO Axis Troops
Accounted for in Libya.
We have $500 prisoners, includ-
Ing many wounded, Of whom 1O,5OO
are German.
We have killed or wounded at
least 1850 Germans and $4,000
1talians-in all the total accounted
for is exactly $1,000.
OF forces Rommel disposed on No.
vember 18 little more than one third
remains.
Eight hundred and fifty-two Ger
man and italian aircraft have been
destroyed as well at 1856 German
and Italian tanks.
During this battle we had in action
more than $4,000 men against enemy
forces-f they could be brought to
bear-much more than doubly that
strong.
I cannot tell what is the position
at the present moment in Cyrenaica.
We have very daring, skillful op-
ponent against us and-may I say
across the havoc of war-4a great
general. e.. 49,.
= He has certainly received rein
forcements. Another battle even
now is in progress and I make it
rule never to prophesy beforehand
how battles turn out.
Not only has the enemy lost nearly
three times our losses, but the blue
waters of the Mediterranean have
thanks to the enterprise OF the
navy, our submarines and the air
force-drowned a large number of
which were con-
tinually sent, and this process has
had further important success during
the last few days.
So, whether you call it a victory
or not, it must be dubbed up to the
present moment-for I won't make
promises-a highly profitable trans
action 80
Situation in Nile Valley
Is Best Since 1910.
Let us see what has happened on
the other flank
There we must thank Russia. The
valor of the Russian armies has
warded off the dangers which we un-
ran.
The Caucasus and the Russian oil
field Of Baku and the great Anglo
Persian oil fields are denied to the
enemy.
While facing Germany and Italy
here and In the Nile Valley, we
never had the power to provide ef-
fectively for the defense of the Far
East.
1t has been the policy of the cab
met at almost all costs to avoid en-
broilment with Japan until we were
sure the United States would also
be engaged.
Winter has come. We have time
to strengthen still further our forces
in those regions.
I therefore present to you that the
situation In the Nile Valley, both
west and east, is incomparably easier
than anything we have seen since
we were deserted by the Vichy gov
and were set upon by Italy
1t is only by the smallest margin
that we have succeeded so far in
beating Rommel in Cyrenaica, de-
stroying two-thirdS of his forces.
1t is only by the victory Of the
Russians that we have been spared
the overrunning of all those lands,
from the Levant to the Caspian,
which in turn give access to India,
Persia, the Persian Gulf, the Nile
Valley and the Suez Canal.
Sees Victory Now
II All Work Together.
The House will see how our re-
sources have been strained, by what
small MARGIN ond what StrolxeS of