Evening star., 1942-06-22
Libyu
Continued From First Page.)

desert track center 4O miles TO the
southeast, and the port Of Bardis,
only eight miles from the Egyptian
border.
un Rome the italian high
command declared that the Axis
forces were marching toward the
Egyptian frontier"
"A delayed dispatch from a cor
respondent with the British
forces at Halfaya Pass, east of
Tobruk. said the Tobruk garrison
surrendered last Saturday.
Gan all-out Axis thrust from
the east pierced the heretofore
impregnable perimeter of the
British defenses at the port in
three places. tearing open wide
gap. while the Italians shelled
Tobruk from the south and west,
the correspondent said.
"A British attempt to counter
attack with armored columns
from the south during Saturday
failed when the British clashed
with Marshal Erwin Rommels
2lst Panzer Division.
mo further details were avail
able Immediately on the last two
days of terrific fightingD
Moving on Fort Capuzzo.
A British communique reported
earlier today that an Axis column
was moving toward Fort Capuzzo.
which is about 20 miles south and
slightly east of Bardia.
This force was contacted yester-
day near Sidi Azeiz. IL miles north
west of Fort Capuzzo. by mobile
British forces operating out in
front of the Egyptian border de-
fense line. the communique said.
The bulletin gave no new infor-
nation on developments at Tobruk,
saying merely:
There is no further news from
Tobruk. which must be presumed
to have fallen"
While some British forces were
still operating west of the Egyptian
frontier. virtually the whole of
Libya was presumably in Axis hands
1t was expected here that Marshal
Rommel would attempt to capitalize
on his successes by striking swiftly
into Egypt in the hope of dealing
Gen. Ritchie's remaining forces a
death blow before they could be
regrouped.
Military quarters here were vague
as to the factors accounting for the
fall Of Tobruk. but it appeared the
British had lost such large proper
ton of their armored strength in
the savage desert fighting which
preceded the final assault that they
were unable to offer effective
resistance.
Dispatches from the front gave no
indication of any attempt to remove
the Tobruk garrison by sea during
the furious 24-hour battle that
ended in its fall.
1t seemed probable that in addi-
ton to large numbers of prisoners.
most of the equipment which the
British conveyed to Tobruk only a
few days ago at great cost had fallen
into Axis hands, for events moved 50
rapidly that complete destruction of
stores would have been impossible.
Situation Not Minimized.
While the portion Of Gen. Ritchie's
forces which escaped this debacle
were said to be holding strong posi-
tions along the Egyptian frontier,
there was no disposition here to
minimize the seriousness OF the
situation.
The fall of ToOruk, which the
British had held since January ~.
194l. and which had witstood an
eight-month siege last year, gives
Marshal Rommel an important SUP.
ply port close to the Egyptian from
tier and thereby vastly improves his
chances for a successful thrust to-
ward Suez.
Military quarters here said Mar.
shall Rommel might find it difficult
to move supplies through Tobruk a.
long as Allied air forces can contest
control of the skies. It was pre-
sumed, however, that the Axis lead
er would hasten to concentrate
strong fighter plane forces at nearby
El Adem and other desert airports
to protect his oversee supply line.
The question OF the RATS existing
strength in this area, moreover, was
rendered doubtful by Rome reports
that Axis divebombers had met no
British fighters over Tobruk in the
attacks which paved the
way for its capture.
Egyrt's Position Unchanged.
There was no outward sign of
change in the political situation
facing Egypt. which is not yet for
mally at war with the Axis.
Egypt's well-trained army of 40.-
600 regulars, augmented by 100000
is ready for action. how
ever, and actually is performing
valuable service in support Of the
British by patrolling vast stretches
Of the western desert.
Egyptian anti-aircraft batteries
are in position to defend both the
Nile Valley and the Suez Canal
and have, in fact. already shot down
raiding Axis planes.
The oficial position Of the gov
eminent, pledged to give Britain
all aid short of war, is that it
will not make any declaration
against the Axis powers unless in
vaded.
TIA Italian aduanee Ia Sidi Rer.