DEFENDERS' POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 135, 10 June 1942, Page 5

DEFENDERS' POLICY

WEARING DOWN THE

PANZERS

LONDON, June 9. A Cairo communique states: "One of our columns operating on the enemy's line of supply west of the Devil's Cauldron inflicted damage and.took a number of prisoners. ~ ' -. 'Tanks, infantry, artillery, and divebombers heavily attacked Bir Hacheim, but were repulsed after, heavy fighting. ■ . .. "There is little activity in *ne Knightsbridge area." Beuter's correspondent in the Western Desert reports that in the tank battle around the Devil's Cauldron both forces are pivoting on strongpoints some miles apart. General .Rommel has equipped his strong-point with artillery and anti-tank guns, similar to the Knightsbridge /"hedgehog." Using his strong-point for a forward base, Rommel has apparently decided to fight the battle out in the area west of Knightsbridge. General Ritchie is trying to wear the panzers down without squandering the Imperial tanks in a senseless battering against the German strong-point. Imperial patrols suddenly stabbed out westward from the Gazala-Bir Hacheim line, shaking up the Italian and German infantry, who were holding positions from which Rommel launched his offensive a fortnight ago. "Important tank losses have been inflicted on the enemy in the past two days," the correspondent states. "Ours have not been so large, though fairly heavy, but our system of replacement is superior to that of the Germans."