1941-06-19 — Page 41

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 19, 1941

GEN. WAVELL'S

NEW OFFENSIVE

DESERT

(By Reuter's Military Commentator)

YESTERDAY 126 YEARS AGO, THE BRI- TISH WON THE DECISIVE VICTORY OF WATERLOO, WHICH VICTORY BROUGHT TO HIS KNEES A DICTATOR WHO HAD LORDED IT OVER EUROPE FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS.

Battles in those days only lasted one day; now they take several before the final de- cision is reached.

Battles of an offensive character are again being fought to save Europe and the world from other dictators whose tyranny is far more brutal and cruel than that of Napoleon.

In my last despatch it was in- dicated that an offensive in Libyn might be undertaken by the Bri- tish and not by the Germans, and so it has turned out, for on Sun- day morning General Wavell launched an attack of some mag- nitude on the German front in

Libya and heavy fighting is still

going on round Sollum and Hal- faya Pass,

It is satisfactory to find that the British forces are now strong enough in the Middle East to justify General Wavell In mak ing this

attack, while he han other forces engaged in a second campaign in Syria,

Details have not yet come to hand to enable us fully to picture the battle which is now going on off Sollum, but one or two salient

points can be perceived.

Heavy Attack

It is evident that our attack is heavy enough to have obliged the Germans to rush reserves. It ap- making use of fairly wide turning

pears

the British are

tactica ly

movements and that the R.A.F. Is giving aniple support not only in attacking bases, airfields and the enemy's lines of communications but also on the actual battlefield.

The enemy seems to fear that this is the first step in a serious and sustained attack but must wait and see.

we

It may only be a local offensive aiming at the capture of Halfoya Pasa,

progress

ENEMY

STAND-BY ORDER TO U.S. RESERVISTS

Stand-by orders have been issued to the last remaining U.S. naval reservists, the Navy Department stated in Washington yester- day.-Reuter.

BRITAIN

CLOSES

SHIPPING DOWN ON LOSSES

“Couldn't keep my eye

on the ball to-day !'