DESERT WARFARE LULL IN CAULDRON AREA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 10 June 1942, Page 5

DESERT WARFARE LULL IN CAULDRON AREA

Attack Against Bir Hacheim Repulsed WARM TRIBUTES TO DEFENDERS (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) Rugby, June 9. To-day’s Cairo communique indicates a temporary lull in the cauldron area, while yet another violent attack with all arms against Bir Hacheim has been held. The great gallantry with which the Free French and Indian forces have warded off every attack on Bir Hacheim with the support of the R.A.F. has received the warmest tributes in London. The text of the communique is as follows “One of our columns operating on the enemy supply line west of the cauldron inflicted damage to the enemy and took a number of prisoners. A heavy attack on Bir Hacheim by tanks, infantry, artillery and dive-bombers was repulsed after fierce fighting. Our Air Force was active in assisting our land forces, especially in the Bir Hacheim area, where enemy concentrations were attacked effectively. There was little activity in the Knightsbridge area.”

London, June 8. The tank battle has been renewed round the Devil’s Cauldron, both forces pivoting on strong-points some miles apart. General Rommel has equipped his Strong-point with artillery and antitank guns, similar to the Knightsbridge ‘•hedgehog.’’ says Reuter’s correspondent in the Western Desert. 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. Ours have been not so large, though fairly heavy, but our replacementing is superior to the Germans. A dispatch from the desert says that last night’s German thrust at Knightsbridge was a dismal failure. An earlier report said that the British square at Knightsbridge was still taking anything the enemy could muster, and that another Axis attack had been pushed back into the cauldron from which it started. Another correspondent says that early on Sunday evening the enemy tried to attack in the Knightsbridge area, but not in his usual blitz fashion. This time, after the failure of the panzers on the previous day, the German artillery were pushed ahead, with the tanks behind. When the enemy got near the western approach to the battlefield the defenders put up such a fierce curtain of lead that the unhappy Axis artillery units retired back through the cauldron. ‘‘As for the enemy tanks, we didn’t even make contact with them,” he said. Till this attack at dusk. most of yesterday was comparatively quiet there after Saturday’s fierce fighting, which saw the panzers pushed back beyond their starting point. The correspondent of ‘‘The Times” in the Western Desert says that the French imperturbably hold Bir Hacheim where they are completely surrounded. They have supplies sufficient lor many days. Our columns are again roaming south-west of Bir Hacheim and almost to Rotunda Segnali, cutting off enemy supply columns and harassing outposts. There is now a channel open through to the garrison through which British transports are rushing ammunition, food and water. A wounded Free French soldier says that casualties have been remarkably low owing to Bir Hacheim’s efficient defences. The British supply lorries turn up, however firece the fighting and a canteen truck with whisky and cigarettes was particularly welcome. One of the repeated assaults upon 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 Axis tanks and guns which tried to storm this citadel from both the north and south were forced to retire. Once again the Free French garrison with their 75’s and even grenades held at bay an important enemy force. It was the stiffest attack the Free French and their 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. PRISONERS CAPTURED Further north in the main cauldron of the battlefield fighting was again very fierce at times. Our columns captured quite a number of prisoners and destroyed numerous supply vehicles coming from a westerly .direction. Five times in five days the Italians, with their well-known love of ceremony, asked for the surrender of Bir Hacheim and each time they received the same unceremonious reply. On the seventh day a Free French war correspondent was able to say that the situation was no l 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 w thin range of Free French small arms. The enemy’s medium artillery is still concentrated on Free French positions but causes very few casualties owing to well protected defence works. —8.0. W. and P.A.