STIFFEST ATTACK YET

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 136, 11 June 1942, Page 5

STIFFEST ATTACK YET

STOUT FREE FRENCH RESISTANCE.

LONDON, June 9,

One of the repeated assaults on Bir Hacheim is described by an agency correspondent with the Eighth Army, who writes that the sun was setting, on Monday evening when Bir Hacheim was heavily attacked by enemy armoured forces, and by nightfall, two hours later, the Axis tanks and guns which tried to storm this citadel from both north and south were forced to retire.

Once again the Free Fx-ench garrison, with their 75's, and even grenades, held at bay an important enemy force. ■It was the stiffest attack the Free French" and ttieir" British supporters had had to meet, and, as usual, dive-bombers caused casualties, .but not one of the enemy succeeded in setting foot inside the defences. Hardly had the battle started than the R.A.F. were attacking concentrations of enemy troops.

Five times in five days, the Italians, with their,well-known love of ceremony, have asked for the surrender

jof Bir Hacheim. Each fe time they have received the same unceremonious reply. On the seventh day, a Free French war correspondent was able to say that the situation was not alarming, so long as they could get supplies. Italian armoured units of the Trento Division, supported by infantry, continue to show themselves several times a day, but withdraw as soon as they come within range of the Free French small arms. The enemy's medium artillery is still concentrated on the Free French positions, but causes very few casualties because of the well-protected defence works.