FIERCE MELEE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 168, 18 July 1942, Page 5

FIERCE MELEE

TANKS AND TROOPS New Zealanders Hold Part Of Central Ridge British Official Wireless. Reed. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, July 17. Describing the armoured battle still being fought south of El Alamein, a correspondent in a broadcast from the Egyptian front said: Fighting began when the enemy used tanks to try to dislodge our infantry from the Ruweisak ridge Our tanks came up to help the infantry. The enemy produced more, and so rapidly the amount of armour on each side increased. The action then developed from a local tank engagement into the general battle between tanks, with infantry and quantities of guns on each side. The area of activity is still Ruweisak, although in desert tank fighting there is always a good deal of movement. Yesterday, even when the armoured battle was at its height, the enemy had not forgotten his original intention of clearing Ruweisak and still attacked our troops there. All reports to-day make it clear that the fighting in the central sector, particularly about Ruweisak, is very fierce. The original attack on the ridge was made by the New Zealanders and Indians. It was a courageous and well executed infantrv operation. Although interference bv enemv tanks forced the New Zealanders to fall back some way from the western end of the ridge,' it did not then dislodge them altogether. For the moment all attention is focused on the tank fighting, which for the enemy as well as us is a most important operation. The employment of Allied aircraft in force in the Western Desert yesterday to bomb enemy transport resulted in fires and explosions all day long. One attack alone scored ten hits on vehicles and others recorded many direct hits. Fighters intercepted enemy bombers and shot down four and probably others. Tobruk was raided on Wednesday night, and fires were started and lit up the whole waterfront. A large fire was started at Solium, and another was followed by a series of explosions at the El Gubbi landing ground. Targets near Oasba and El Baba were also attacked. Naval aircraft arc also engaged in the battle area. From all these operations nine of our aircraft have not returned. Ba(tl«- Stops Suddenly Early on Thursday the Germans heavily attacked the western end of Ruweisak. in which the New Zealanders and Indians were consolidating. Lorryloads of infantry were flung against the Imperial troops strongly supported by the 21st Panzer Division, also artillery. British tanks intervened and a heavy tank engagement developed between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and reached its peak at 10.45 a.m. I

Clouds of dust and mirages hid the details from the New Zealanders on the ridge. The fury of the gunfire increased until noon, when the battle abruptly stopped as though by a referee's whistle. The enemy withdrew, leaving several tanks.

During the lull Kittyhawks swept in and strafed enemy supply personnel. Then bombs from Bostons screamed down on the Italian and German gun positions.

The panzers again moved in early in the afternoon, and by 6 p.m. the whole desert had gone mad as the enemy desperately attempted to batter his way into our positions. Around 7 p.m. it was impossible to distinguish the individual gunbursts. which merged in a deep-throated continuous rumble.