Word: libyans
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...There you are, gentlemen," said Winston Churchill, commenting on the Libyan battle. "On strategy we are all right. If a giant came and stood in front of that door to prevent our leaving, he would be strategically right. But if we kicked him in the stomach, trod on his face and left by the door, tactical operations would have vitiated all strategy...
Winston Churchill was cautious because the battle for the Libyan desert was not yet won. The British had gained at least their first objective, the relief of Tobruk (see p. 23). If the ferocity of German resistance made the course of the battle still a cause for anxiety (see p. 23), U.S. bystanders could at least take comfort from the good showing made by U.S. equipment (see p. 66). Decision one way or the other in the main battle could...
Strategically, the week's most important development in Libya was the spectacular British sweep by "mechanized patrols" across the base of the Libyan hump. The patrols could not have been very strong, but they were apparently strong enough to attack and destroy Axis land convoys, which were working along the road which was the only Axis supply line from the west...
...what he likes best is to fight battles at sea. Sir Andrew is Sir Alan's brother, and this time his job was to make his brother's job easier. His main efforts were concerned with bombarding the enemy wherever he dawdled within 30 miles of the Libyan coast, and with breaking his supply lines. Sir Alan's forces torpedoed a cruiser (the R.A.F. got another), a destroyer and two supply ships. Admiral Cunningham has on his escutcheon the fair marks of Taranto, Matapan and last year's Libyan show. He has kept Tobruk alive with...
Equally important is the Libyan campaign from the Axis viewpoint, although Berlin has so far refused to admit that it is anything more than a local scrap. The Italians, however, have been much franker about the matter in confessing that the future of Italy depends upon the outcome in Africa. Strategically based planes could destroy Italian cities by night bombing expeditions and with the aid of the British navy they can send the Italian fleet off to Davy Jones private pool. But if the Germans refuse to admit the seriousness of the stakes in Africa their recent actions of forcing...