SOME PROGRESS BY BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 20 July 1942, Page 5

SOME PROGRESS BY BRITISH

Fighting In Egypt LONDON, July 19. Some progress yesterday by the British forces in Egypt is reported in the central and southern sectors of the El Alamein front. In the northern sector the Allied positions were held. The latest Cairo communique says that the British troops pressed slightly forward along Ruweisat ridge in the central sector. In the evening’ an- enemy counter-attack was repulsed. A detailed account of the great tank battle of three days ago is still awaited. It is believed that the co-operation between the British' tank men and gunners was particularly effective. One report says that the artillery barrages in the fighting for the ridges exceeded in sheer weight anything previously experienced in the desert.

LONDON, July 17. The latest information which has reached Cairo says that the progress of the great armoured battle raging in Egypt can be regarded as satisfactory for the British, says the Cairo corrjp pondent of the “Evening Standard.” Tlie battle may be regarded as Rommel’s last toss of the dice. If all goes well with the Allies, Rommel’s castle of dreams will totter and crash about his feet. One mistake on either side may lead to vital repercussions. The New Zealanders are still holding off German and Italian attempts to storm the Ruweisat ridge, the key to the central sector at El Alamein, while Australians and Germans and Italians see-saw around the important height at Tel el Isa. These are the focal points in the struggle, which is now spread along almost the entire El Alamein line. Continuous Fights. It is believed in London that, after exchanging hands several times, Tel el Isa hill is now in our possession. ■ Ruweisak ridge, which is situated about twelve miles from the coast, is about eight miles long, two to three miles wide and runs to the west. It has been the scene of a German attack since the evening of Wednesday last. The lighting has been continuous and the final result is not yet known. Both sides are using armour, artillery and infantry, the last being engaged in the battle on the ridge itself. South African troops threw back an Italo-German attempt to penetrate between the Australian and New Zealand positions. Unspecified units of the Eighth Army gained some ground at the extreme south end of the Alamein Line. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says Rommel threw all the armour he could possibly assemble against Ruweisat and a major tank battle developed at about 10 p.m. yesterday. The panzers broke off and pulled out to the west, but the engagement was later resumed. The outcome is not yet reported. When the enemy was able to spare a few tanks from the central sector he pushed the Australians from advanced positions at Tel el Isa, but when the enemy rushed tanks to Ruweisat the Australians regained their positions. The correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company says .that the Ruweisat tank battle, on which the fate of Alexandria may depend, has resolved itself into a grim duel between tanks on both sides, and also anti-tank guns, field guns, and longrange guns. Vital Importance. “The Times” correspondent says that the Ruweisat tank battle is on an extremely large scale and is vitally important. It is confused and fluid —the kind of battle in which fortunes fluctuate hourly and the loss of an appreciable number of tanks can entirely change the position. “Our grip in the Tel el Isa salient,” the correspondent states, “gives a definite advantage to us. From time to time the enemy has been forced to withdraw tanks from the main battle in an attempt to reduce the Australians’ positions. These attempts have been made periodically, and all have been repulsed. Our air support all day long is now on a tremendous scale. Enemy air activity Is far greater than it has been for some time, and many air battles have resulted. “There is reason to suppose that the present battle is an all-out clash on which the final decision in the whole campaign depends. The arm Hired strengths are probably about equal. Battles of this kind do not las', ’ong and it is likely that a decision will be reached this weekend.’” Heavy German Attack.

Early on July 16 the Germans heavily attacked the western end of the Ruweisat Ridge on which the New Zealanders and Indians were consolidating. Lorry loads of infantry were flung against the Imperial troops, strongly supported by the 21st Panzer Division and also artillery. British tanks intervened and a heavy tank engagement developed, between 8 and 9 a.m., reaching its peak at 10.45 a.m. Clouds o£ dust hid details of the battle from the New Zealanders on the ridge. The fury of the gunfire increased till noon, when the battle abruptly stopped as though by a referee’s whistle. Tne enemy withdrew, leaving several tanks ■During tlie lull, Kittyhawks swept in and strafed tlie enemy supply personnel, and then bombs from the Bostons screamed down on tlie Italo-German gun positions. The panzers again moved in early in the afternoon, and by 6 p.m. the whole desert bad gone mad as the enemy desperately attempted to batter his way into our positions. At about 7 p.m. it was impossible to distinguish individual gun-bursts, which merged into a deep-throated and continuous rumble. The enemy vainly hurled tanks, shells, and lorry loads of infantiy against the Eighth Army, which stood firm. Tlie tiring died down as darkness crept over tlie desert, but again flared up later. Rommel Oil - Guard. - Tlie correspondent of the "Daily Express” with the Eighth Army says: "We came on July 15 within ar, ace of driving Rommel out of Egypt We struck the Ruweisat Ridge while he was attacking in the north. There was a time —just a few hours—when he was off guard and liis armour was in tlie wrong place. We had driven a great wedge five miles deep into tlie centre of the enemy line, part of which Rommel had fortified most heavily. The wedge divided two panzer divisions and communications inside the enemy lines bad broken down. We had the enemy line really shaken, but did not have tlie necessary armour on tlie spot, and the battle cased and came to a deadlock.”

Describing the armoured battle being fought out south of El Alamein. a correspondent in a broadcast from the Egyptian front said: “Fighting began when the enemy used tanks to try to dislodge our infantry from Ruweisak ridge. Our tanks came up to help the infantry. The enemy produced more and so rapidly tlie amount of armour on each side increased. Tlie action then developed from a local tank engagement into a general battle between the tanks, with infantry and quantities of guns on each side.

“The area of activity is still Ruwei-

sak, though in the desert tank fighting there is always a good deal of movement. Yesterday, qven'when the armoured battle was at its height, the enemy had not forgotten the original intention of clearing Ruweisak and still attacked our troops there. . Twofold Attacks.

“Our attacks against the Axis armour are twofold. General Grants, General Lees—a new American tank which differs from the Grant only in its top turret—and British cruisers and heavy tanks have been operating among the dust and soft sand of the central sector. The combined air forces have been concentrating attacks on enemy armour from above.” All the reports today make it clear that the fighting in the central sector, particularly about Ruweisak, is very fierce. The original attack on the ridge made by New Zealanders and Indians was a courageous and wellexecuted infantry operation. Though interference by enemy tanks forced the New Zealanders to pull back some way from the western end of the ridge, it did not then dislodge them altogether. A Cairo communique states: “Heavy fighting developed on Thursday in the central sector, with the enemy continuing his efforts to dislodge our troops who had established themselves on the south-west ridge. Armoured forces on both sides were engaged in the morning and a number of enemy tanks were knocked out. Details of our own losses are not yet known. In the evening fighting was resumed in this area and continued into the night. Fighting also continued during the day in the northern sector. In the south the enemy withdrew slightly. Aif Support. “Supporting our ground forces in the battle area and attacking targets in the rear, our bombers, fighter-gombers and fighters continued large-scale dawn-to-dusk activities. Fighterbombers scored direct hits on vehicles, many being badly dispersed, on tank workshops and on gun positions. Transport concentrations were heavi.y attacked by light bombers, large fires and explosions resulting. Throughout the hours of daylight our fighters maintained a continuous patrol over the battle area and shot down at least four enemy aircraft. From these extensive operations six of our aircraft are missing.” . . . Informed quarters are of opinion, that the present fighting is on a bigger scale than attacks which have taken place recently. Little importance, is attached to the slight German withdrawal in the south, it being understood that the operations in the centre at present constitute the all-important factor. ± UT , .. „ A correspondent states: I'or the moment all attention is fdcused on the tank fighting, which for the enemy, as well as for us, is the most important operation.” HEAVY PRESSURE ON ENEMY Allied Air Activities (British Official Wireless.) ■ (Received July 19, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, July 18. The Allied air force In Egypt continued its heavy pressure on the enemy yesterday. The Air Ministry news service says that in three attacks ou enemy transport pilots saw five hits, which caused considerable damage. Violent explosions were heard and a number of fires seen. Fighter-bombers concentrated on similar targets with success. A tank, a petrol station and a number of vehicles were destroyed others being damaged. There was a noticeable increase in Italian air activity over the desert. Heavy bombers of the R.A.F. and United States Army made daylight attacks on enemy supply shipping in the north African harbours of Tobruk, Bardia and Bomba. At Tobruk direct hits were scored on a large supply ship and a tanker, which was set on .fire. A smaller ship received a direct hit at Bomba. An agency correspondent states many thousands of gallons of petrol were destroyed by naval aircraft at Mcrsa Matruh on Friday night. Aircraft dived on the dump and dropped incendiaries which started a fire that could be seen many miles away. The petrol had just been unloaded and near misses were made by a petrol ship in the harbour. Meanwhile other naval squadrons bombed heavy concentrations of enemy tanks and transports behind the German lines. South-west of El Alamein they put sticks of bombs across some 2000 vehicles, starting numerous fires. . The employment of Allied aircraft in force in the Western Desert ou Thursday to bomb enemy transport resulted in fires and explosions all day long. One attack alone scored 10 hits on vehicles, and others recorded many direct hits. Fighters intercepted enemy bombers and shot down four of them and probably others. ' Tobruk was raided on the night ot July 15 and fires which were started lit up tlie whole waterfront. A large fire was started at Solium, and another was followed by a series of explosions at El Gubbi landing ground. Targets near Oasba and El Baba were also attacked. Naval aircraft were also engaged in the battle area. TRIBUTE TO DOCTORS LONDON, July 17. The correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain in the Western Desert pays a tribute to two Australian doctors at the most forward army field hospital, where English, Australian. New Zealand, Italian and German wounded were borne in side by side in a steady stream on the afternoon and night of July 1(5. The Australian doctors were doing virtually all the work in a tented mobile surgery, and they saved countless lives. The correspondent watched the doctors at work. One of their marvels was performed on a lad who was shot through the thigh. Th» doctors said that this typo of wound caused numerous deaths in the last war, but though working with limited equipment and often forced to improvize, they were satisfied that the patient would soon be walking again. Twice on Friday afternoon, on the approach of unidentified aircraft, Staten a message from Nicosia (Cyprus), the alert was sounded. R.A.F. fighters were on patrol, but the approaching aircraft did not cross the coast.