GATHERING FORCES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 227, 8 July 1942, Page 4

GATHERING FORCES

ROMMEL’S BELIEVED AIM. FINAL ATTEMPT TO BREAK LINE. ALLIED EQUALITY IN TANKS. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright). (Rec. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 7. Marshal Rommel is believed to he gathering his forces together for a final attempt to break General Sir Claude Auchinleck’s line. There is no evidence that; the Italians and Germans are digging in. The battle is still fluid. Land fighting has slackened, artillery on both sides concentrating against their opponents’ antitank positions. A correspondent with the Btii Army says that our line now extends from Ahimein, 15 miles south, then 30 miles westwards to a print south of El Da bn. Allied forces yesterday attempted to get around .Marshal Rommel’s flank, but: stopped when confronted by strong forces which Rommel apparently put out to screen bis rcgiouping. The weather was very tricky throughout the. day, mirages following early mists. Visibility reached 2000 yards only in the brief evenings. The battlefield is a vast .expanse of soft sand, broken by scrubs and humps. The going is tough for tanks and other vehicles. The Germans do not appear to hare received replacements of tanks, although the Italians are believed to have received sojme new heavy tanks. British armoured strength is still growing, hut Marshal Rommel lias plenty of kick left. The Cairo correspondent of “ The Times” says that as the position is seen from Cairo, Marshal Rommel lias not much chance of breaking through the Bth Army, which, after its superb rally, is a different force, growing stronger daily, particularly in much - needed guns. The Alamein. correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the foremost British tanks yesterday lay hulldown in a wide arc, firing on the Germans from stationary positions, supported by anti-tank guns and field, guns. The Germans returned the fire. Neither side moved. Our tank crews saw German crews get. out of t’heir tanks, cook their mid-day meal, and stroll along the ridge until “smartoped up’’ by the artillery. Our tank strength is creeping up. Tank commanders state that we have about regained our numerical parity with the enemy, who knows that the period of his crushing superiority in tanks has ended. He is no longer throwing his armoured weight about, nor are we. The Berlin radio first mentioned British dive-bombers when it is claimed that they had been attacked in the Alamein area. It also mentioned that Homeyer, manager of the Trans-Ocean News Service, who is an officer in the German Army, has been killed in North Africa. The Paris radio states that General Sir Archibald Wavell (Commander-iu-Cliief in India) has arrived in Cairo, and has been received by General Sir Claude Auchinleck (Commander-iu-Chicf in the Middle East).