ARMIES CLASH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20822, 29 June 1942, Page 3

ARMIES CLASH

BATTLE OF EGYPT HEAVY FIGHTING STRENGTH OF ALLIES INCREASING CONFIDENCE (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Noon.) LONDON, June 28. A communique issued at Middle East headquarters in Cairo states that our forces closed with the enemy yesterday, and heavy fighting followed all day. Our armoured forces attacked enemy armoured columns west of Mersa Matruh. The battle continues. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent declares that there is increased confidence that our army is not as weak as might be expected after the fall of Tobruk, which has not yet been seriously used as a supply port. General Rommel is making great efforts to get supplies through Benghazi. The correspondent reports that prior to the clash the ail-out Axis drive had lost some of its momentum. The main enemy force approaching Mersa Matruh had apparently turned slightly towards the sea. British advanced units were hitting out against the enemy. The Eighth Army was standing along chosen positions in expectation of violence fighting in the next few days.

Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army headquarters says that for the past three or four days, South African armoured cars have been harassing fast-moving enemy advance elements between Bug-Bug and Mersa Matruh. They delayed the German thrust on Egypt by every possible means. Forces Take Up Position The British United Press correspondent in the Western Desert says the Axis forces j dekeyed into position for the attack against Mersa Matruh. Mixed German and Italian motorised forces, supported by infantry, were coming up to the outer positions. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent with the Eighth Army says that should General Rommel attempt a southward circumvention of the depression between Mersa Matruh and Alexandria he will be hundreds of miles from the coast in country entirely without water and undeveloped even by camel caravans. It is difficult to believe that such an attempt could be successful owing to the impossibility of obtaining petrol supplies. The Daily Mail’s Cairo correspondent says: “True enough, General Rommel’s army is still formidable, but he has to decide whether it is formidable enough to go in baldheaded against our prepared positions at the end of a 150-mile march.” According to an agency correspondent. the concentration of all modern arms is still going on and tanks and aircraft are ready for what is expected to be a savage battle to a finish. The fight will end only with the destruction of General Rommel’s forces or with their presence on the open road which leads to the Nile Delta. Lorry Loads of Supplies The correspondent adds: “On our side, the most encouraging sight for weeks on the road leading to the front line has been lorries of all kinds carrying new arms and ammunition to the British Tommies, who, as always on the eve of battle are cool, collected and sure of themselves. They know what the Germans are and what the fight will be, and they fully realise their responsibility. They are silent but sure.” The Times’ correspondent in Cairo says that the Axis forces followed the route of the desert railway to Alexandria. There was no information that General Rommel was attempting the intensely difficult southern crossing of the desert, which, if accomplished, would land him somewhere on the Nile Delta! One small column advanced slightly in a southern direction, but was turned back with heavy losses. The Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: “Both our own and the enemy air forces were active over the battle area yesterday. Our fighters made offensive sweeps and reconnaissances, together with low-level attacks on enemy ground forces and landing grounds. In one of attacks on transport vehicles between Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh some troop transports were knocked out and enemy troops were killed. Another successful attack was made from a low level on aircraft on Derna aerodrome.

Bombing of Tobruk “Two Messerschmitt 109’s were destroyed during these operations. It is now known that in addition to the figures alx-eady given, a further seven enemy aircraft were destroyed over the battle area on Friday. Night fighters and anti-aircraft guns shared in the destruction of a Junkers 88 on Friday night. “Our night bombers, including the United States Army Air Corps, struck in and around the battle area. On Friday night they bombed transport and tank concentrations between Sidi. Barrani and Mersa Matruh, causing numerous fires and explosions. On the same night, Tobruk was bombed and fires started on the jetties. An enemy supply ship off Tobruk was bombed and machine-gunned and left at a standstill. Enemy bombers raided our positions near Daba. Five of our aircraft are missing fropi all operations.” “By day and night bomber and fighter-bomber operations of the Allied air force in the battle area have been turned against the enemy ground forces and grounded air forces in the area west of Mersa Matruh.” In these words the Royal Air Force Middle East communique of yesterday epitomises the part played by the Royal Air Force in support of the land forces during the present crucial battle. Clash of Fighters The communique adds: “Yesterday, enemy troops advancing towards Mersa Matruh and in the Meschiefa area were attacked with success. Fighters and fighter-bombers made a low-level attack on enemy aircraft and motor transport on the landing ground west of Mersa Matruh. Last night our bombers successfully attacked tanks and transport vehicles between Solium and Mersa Matruh. During operations over the battle area, our Kittyhawk and Hurricane fighters destroyed seven Messerschmitts. One of our reconnaissance aircraft 'destroyed a Junkers. Another formation of fighters ground-strafed traffic on the Bug BugSidi Barrani road, destroying seven lorries and damaging others and killing a number of enemy personnel. Of two Messerschmitts encountered during this attack one was shot down. “Enemy bombers on Thursday night attacked our positions between Mersa Matruh and Daba. A Junkers was destroyed by night fighters. Our bombers continued their harassing attacks on enemy shipping in the central Mediterranean.- Twelve of our planes are missing. Two pilots are believed lo be safe.” The Vichy radio says that two main Axis columns are converging on Mersa Matruh. General Rommel seems to have brought up sufficient forces to exploit any break-through or to resort to his strategism of rapid encirclement. The Berlin High Command spokesman said that 977 British tanks and several hundred guns were destroyed or captured in Libya.