HEAVY FIGHTING IN ALL SECTORS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 173, 24 July 1942, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING IN ALL SECTORS

EGYPT CAMPAIGN

Earlier Allied Successes

Consolidated TT.F.A. and British Wireless. Rec. noon. LONDON, July 23. The Cairo Headquarters communique states that there was heavy flghting on all sectors yesterday following an attack by our infantry on enemy positions in the central sector on Tuesday night. In the central sector fighting was mainly on the western end of Ruweisat Ridge and the area slightly to the north. Armoured forces with the aid of infantry were engaged in this sector during the day. Our troops made some progress, which was consolil dated. f Air operations early yesterday were curtailed owing to dust storms, but later our light bombers and fighter-bombers attacked in the northern sector in support of our land forces. In due course effort was switched to the central sector, where better targets were found. The bombing was very accurate and many direct hits were registered on vehicles, armoured cars, tanks and gun positions. Our fighters maintained continuous patrol over our troops until dusk and shot down one enemy aircraft. During small-scale air activity over Malta our fighters shot down two Tvlesserschmitts 109. Seven of our planes are missing from these and other operations, but two pilots are known to be safe. Imperial Troops Hold Ground Imperial troops are holding their ground on the Egyptian front despite Axis counter-attacks, says a dispatch from Cairo this afternoon. The Exchange Telegraph correspondent with the Bth Army says that despite local counter-attacks Rommel is on the defensive. The Axis forces have dug in all along the front. Even tanks have been dug in. This explains the limited British gains in the centre, where fighting has been violent The Germans are bearing the brunt of the defence and counter-attacks on all sectors. Reports from Berlin refer to strong British forces repeatedly and very heavily attacking. Berlin radio states: "The British have succeeded in stemming our advance." The barrage marking the opening of the beginning of the Allied offensive along the front commenced on the evening of Tuesday and lasted more than two hours, during which hundreds of shells were sent smash*ing into the enemy lines, which were only about a mile in front of the Allies most advanced forces. The ground rocked with the fury of the barrage, behind which Indian, New Zealand and South African infantry crept forward. Verey signals soon began to arise as the enemy tried to locate our troops. The barrage was intensified until 10.10 p.m., when it stopped. As the infantry contacted the enemy the thunder of the barrage was replaced by the chilling rattle of machine-guns and the clatter of tanks going into action. The New Zealanders, South Africans and Indians soon reached their first objectives and held off desperate German counter-attacks. The Germans at first employed tanks in the complete darkness, but our infantry held their positions through the night. A second furious barrage heralded the dawn.