“BATTLE OF THE GAP”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 287, 3 November 1942, Page 2

“BATTLE OF THE GAP”

ENEMY IN TIGHT POSITION. AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION. (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (Rec. 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 2. Australian infantry are playing a crucial part in the “Battle of the Gap’’. The Australians on Friday drove northwards and towards the coast from the bulge they had previously driven into the Axis positions to a depth of approximately three miles. The Australians launched a night attack supported by a tremendous artillery barrage and fougbt their way desperately forward across rough and difficult ground. They took the first two objectives by dawn and again attacked shortly after daylight and gained further ground. They inflicted appreciable casualties and took a number of prisoners, mostly Germans, and destroyed some guns. The result of the Australians’ thrust was the almost complete encirclement of strong Italian and German forces, who have been under constant attack from three sides since Saturday morning. The artillery, air force, tanks, and infantry are now co-operating in an attempt to pinch out the Axis salient. Reconnaissance revealed that the Italians and Germans throughout yesterday were preparing to break out from the “hot spot”, in which their position appears to be most precarious. This attack had not mat erialised by nightfall. A German communique states that Axis counter-attacks in the northern sector of the Alamcin front continued yesterday. The enemy forces which made some penetration were thrown back with heavy losses, particularly among the Australians. An Italian communique says that the Axis counter-attack in the northern sector developed favourably and resulted in the capture of about 100 Australians. The enemy after violent artillery preparations carried out new attacks in tlm same sector, but they were checked. The enemy last night attempted to land behind our lines but was frustrated.

AUSTRALIANS HOLDING ON. The Australians who drove northwards are firmly holding their positions under strong counter-attacks from the west and east. Reports from the front are vague on the point whether the Australians actually reached tho coast, but apparently their most advanced force did. The Germans then counter-attacked along the coast before the Allied forces were able to pour in sufficient artillery and tank support, and the enemy manager to pass in a number of tanks to reinforce their pocketed infantry. These pocketed Italians and Germans hold a series of strong points ringed by rows of barbed wire, booby traps, and minefields, and manned by heavy and light machineguns. The Italians and Germans, with strong artillery and mortar support, are attempting to widen the coastal link between the pockets and the main force. They unnvailingly used a strong tank force on Saturday night in an attempt to force the Australians farther from the sea. During the Allied barrage on Friday night the artillery operated flat out for five hours, in which thousands of shells were hurled against tho enemy. The enemy’s gunfire was feeble. The sector attacked formed a very important link in the Gorman defences, and it is generally regarded as tho toughest proposition yet tackled.