POSITIONS HELD

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 21 July 1942, Page 5

POSITIONS HELD

Eighth Army Takes 4000 Prisoners ENEMY RESHUFFLE

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, July 20.

A communique from General Auchinleck’s headquarters today states that yesterday our troops maintained their positions in all sectors. They have taken 4000 prisoners since July 14. Rommel was reported yesterday to have begun a general reshuffle of his forces, threatening the Australian positions at Tel el Isa, which have been a thorn in bis side and forced the Italians and Germans to divert strength from the main clash in the central sector earlier in the week, says the British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Army. The German 90tb Light Division, tough infantry and shock troops were said to be moving toward Tel el Isa. Also, a long trek by the armoured forces was heading in the same direction. The enemy’s main strength was pointed against the Australians. Rommel left a powerful line of 88-milli-metre guns dug in in the central sector. Australians Doing Well.

The enemy concentration at Tel el Isa probably heralds yet another Italian and German attempt to nip oil the northern “tendril” from the Eighth Army’s line, says the British United Press correspondent. The Australians smashed the previous attempts and badly mauled the Italian Sabratha division, which has been withdrawn from the Tel el Isa line after a succession of setbacks at the bands of the Australians, the last being a severe beating up when the Australian infantry attacked on the night of July 17. There is no doubt that the Eighth Army artillery has been the saving factor in the El Alamein line. Every enemy attack has been thrust back and battered by barrages of shells which have given mighty support to our armoured forces. All through the days and starlit nights the guns have kept up a stream of fire, giving the enemy no rest, shooting up transport, hammering infantry and turning back tanks. Fighting France is represented by two battalions of the Foreign Legion, two battalions of marines and another battalion. The South African army consists of 13 regiments and there are at least four Indian regiments. Fresh Troops for Rommel.

The Germans are still sending reinforcements to Egypt through Greece and Crete, says an Ankara message yesterday. Heavier materials are being sent via Naples and Benghazi. A large number of new tanks are reported to have arrived in Italy to replace those Rommel has lost. , . The Tass news agency yesterday quoted a Geneva report that Rommel was using French ships and French communications to supply the North African army. Fifty-three ships left Marsettles between June 1 and 25 direct for Algeria or via Spain. Twenty sbips loaded at Toulon between June 1 and from warehouses which are under a German naval guard. . General Auchinleck’s personal influence on the El Alamein battle is indicated in an extract from a letter received in London from an officer who recently visited the Eighth Army. “I found General Auchinleck in excellent form, he said, “careering about the battlefields in a ‘jeep’ flying the Union Jack, dining under the stars, and sleeping under a map lorry.”

SOON REORGANIZED

N.Z. Battle Formations (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) CAIRO, July 19. In a dispatch dated from Ruweisat Ridge on July 17, the correspondent says that no time has been lost in reorganizing the New Zealand battle formations after their withdrawal from the ridge. Two days after they were overrun by the German tanks, our fighting groups are again up to full strength in guns, and ready to strike another hard blow at the Afrika Korps.