PROGRESS MADE ILL ALONG THE LINE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 173, 24 July 1942, Page 6

PROGRESS MADE ILL ALONG THE LINE

BATTLE IN EGYPT

Dominion Troops Again In Heavy Fighting t'ni'fd Pi-psx A.-^nriiition.—Copyright. ]><■• 'J ::0 p.m. I.ONDON'. July 23. F>i -1 >.i t. ■I n ("mm the Egyptian front ri i\ ( ruin the first day of General Allr limlcrk's threepronged move HU'ain-t Rommel, indicate that the f!ci»i ~h forces have progressed all alone the line on Wednesday, but do not. indicate whether we are at present. seeking more than consolidation of the objectives won. It. is clear that the fighting is still vi'iy licrce. also that tank, infantry and ai'l illery battles are being fought out ;.ll day long and continued after dark. We have smashed through Rommel's defences at a number of points and vigorously engaged those beyond. We silenced the enemy antitank guns entrenched on the most westerly tip of the Ruweisat Ridge and then pushed on some miles to the west of this central sector, where we besieged another fortified hummock. which is part of the Dier el Abyad Uidge. We held Tel el lsa's dominating height to the north against all counter attacks, also Taqa nnd other forward positions gained in the south.

The brunt of the fighting yesterday is stated to have been borne by the New Zealanders and Indians in Ruweisat area, and the Australians, hacked up by South African artillery, In Tel el I area. British armoured forces were sporadically active in different sectors.