FLUID BATTLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20824, 1 July 1942, Page 5

FLUID BATTLE

DESERT SITUATION NOT CLEAR VAST AREA COVERED (By Telegraph—Preßß Assn.—Copyright.) (3 p.m.) . LONDON, June 29. The British United Press’ correspondent with .the Eighth Army confirms that on Saturday night the enemy reached the' coast road at Rerawla, east of Mersa Matruh, cutting off the town. The by-passing of Mersa Matruh was accomplished by the 15th Panzer Division and 90th Light Infantry, while .the Italians kept guard west of Mersa Matruh. An outline of the situation in the Egyptian battle area is given by an agency correspondent with the Eighth Army. “With a fluid battle being waged ove'r a very wide space and mobile columns on both sides operating over this immense area, it is difficult to have a complete view of the fighting which yesterday was again very heavy. It may be several days before a clearer view of the momentous battle is aVailable. “When, on Saturday morning, the German columns struck north-east of the escarpment they did not heavily afttack Mersa Matruh. Using the same tactics as were successful at Tobruk, they attempted to outflank, the position with light forces. The Germans who penetrated through a gap in a minefield were warmly opposed by Dominion and home forces.” A. special German communique -from Hitler’s headquarters stated that the Germans and Italians, in face of tough enemy resistance, stormed and captured the strong Mersa Matruh fortress, took prisoner 6000 British troops, destroyed 36 tanks and numerous batteries and captured a large amount of war •• material. . The ordinary German communique, referring to Egypt, say s: “We again defeated the British southwards of Mersa Matruh and drove them further eastwards. The British lost heavily 'iri tanks. The German and Italian 'air forces effectively attacked the British defence positions and bombed retreating columns.” The Egyptian Ministry of the Interior states that in the course of an air raid on the Alexandria area early this morning, a few bombs were dropped. The damage done was very slight.