The Wilmington morning star., 1942-07-04
Interpreting
The War
New Hope Of Saving Egypt
Arises As British Stem
RommePs Drive In Desert
BY KIRKE L. SIMPSON
Wide World War Analyst

British success in stemming the
Axis drive in Egypt, momentarily
at least, and throwing Rommels
legions back for the first time since
they lurched across the Libyan-
Egyptian border aroused surge of
hope in London and WASHINGTON
that the backbone of the attack
had been broken.
If that proved true, the corridor
between the Mediterranean and the
Qattara depression could become
an Axis death trap instead of a
field of victory. There was no indi-
cation, however that the decisive
moment in the struggle had been
reached. Rommel is too we'll prov
en- warrior, too dangerous foe.
man to justify any belief that the
has spent his force and now must
run for it.
General Auchinleck has everv
reason to respect RommeTs capac-
ity for swift decisions and prompt
execution of surprise moves. The
British commander, now in person.
al direction at the front, has been
schooled by bitter experience.
Nevertheless, British success in
halting and outflanking the attack
on Ell Alamein to compel even
slight withdrawal by the foe is
highly encouraging. It probably
means that British reinforcements
tragic battle in Libya of June 13
have arrived; and that to some
extent British tank losses in that
have now been replaced.
However, if Rommel fell back
under the British thanking threat
only to reorganize, refuel and
strike again, it means only that
the first skirmish of the battle of
Alexandria terminated il British
favor. If he fell back, too exhaust.
ed or short of ammunition and SUD.
plies to strike again immediate.
and Auchinleck saw and seized his
opportunity to take the offensive.
quite a different situation would
be presented and one filled with
glittering possibilities for the Brit
ish.
Hours should serve to reveal the
true pattern of the battle IN the
Egyptian corridor. With British
and American planes battering at
his supply lines, it is obvious that
Rommel has boldly attempted to
break through to Alexandria vi
tually carrying his supplies on his
own back. He can have no assu-
ance of prompt deliveries from the
rear. His force of tanks, trucks and
men must be very largely self CO.
tanned for fuel, food, water and
ammunition. Some supplies could
reach him by air but hardly enough
for so large force.
That is the great British hope Of
turning a gruelling and still all bu,
unexplained defeat by inferior
forces into a smashing victory.
perhaps wrenching all North Afri-
ca from the Axis grip in due
course. 1t is the very grave danger
in which Rommel stands in the
Egyptian corridor which offers him
little or no opportunity to exercise
his genius for surprise turning
thrusts.
n Libya, however, he seemed in
almost as great peril prior to June
13. He had broken through the Brit
ish mine field defenses on a mar
row front. 1t is logical to assume
that the British commander and
his Eighth Army staff thought they
saw an opportunity to crush him
finally when they threw their 300
heavy tanks into an annihiliatioa
attempt that ended in British dis
aster.
The British lost 230 tank units in
that action, according to Prime
Minister Churchill's ACCOUNTING
That sealed the fate of the Eighth
Army and of Tobruk as it proved
1t came within an ace of sealing
the doom of Alexandria as well
and that threat is still grim and
ominous. 3