THE BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN

Chronicle (Levin), 23 October 1946, Page 4

THE BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN

October 23 is a date which will liVe long in the memories of Eighth Army men. On that date, exactly ; four years ago, there began with dramatic suddenness the battle of E1 Alamein, now recognised as the most decisive battle in history. For a fortnight preceding ' the attack, Eighth Army patrols had ; been lifting mines in the north el*n hector between Bir Quslir-.el Atofeli . and Bir el Maqtuq, so that the ■ minefields would not impede the advance. By October 23 tvVo pasl sages had been cleared in this area, ; and it was here that the main i attack was delivered. As zefo hour approached the • army "stood to" ahh" at 9.40 p.m. ; the normal desitltory shelling was • replaced by an Unnrec-'dentr-' • centration of artillery fire. With a ; singie cr&sh over aua guns openfea > fire, one gun to every 23 yards of . -front and at least 20 gqns to every : one of the enemy's. For nearly an ' hour the enemy's lines were harassed unceasingly. Then fire ' was sWitched over to tSuppoft the advance of the infantry. The 30th

Corps began the advance, the infantrymen groping their way through a thiek curtam of dust atid smoke. The moon, which a few minutes before had been shining brightly, was now obscured and their only -guide was the tracer ammunitiorr" of the bofor guns, which were firing on fixed lines marking the various brigade boundaries. In position along this sector from. north to south, were the 9th Australian Division, the 51st Highland Division, the 2nd New Zealand Division and the 1st South African Division. As the barrage thundered ahead of them, the cloud of dust gradually lifted and the moon reappeared. The estimated strength ' of the Eighth Army was 174,000 men against the enemy's 108,000. The Eighth Army was also superior in plahes, artillery and armour. For thirteen dayS the battle raged." During the first phase, which lasted from October 23 to 25, the Eighth Army launched ari attack in the south and simultaneously made its main attack in the

north. During the second phase, from October 20 to Novemoer 1. ue salient in the north was extended by the 9th Australian Division. On November 2 the battle entered its flnal phase. A bari'age outclassing that of October 23 preceded the attack. Every gun on the 10th Corps front,. to which New Zealand Division had . ^yi-A. transferred, was active and in vriur hours 150,000 roUhds were fired- on a 4000 yard front. On November 3 it was clear that the enemy's resistance had been broken and what was left of Rommel's famed Afrika Corps was in full retreat. From then on the rout was complete and the 10th Corps, inclUding the New Zeaiandefs, led the •hase. By November 11 thefe was irf a singie German 01* Italian soldier on Egyptian soil, except as jiibUners. I'ne Eighth Ai*my had -^dvanced 300 miles in three weeks destroying in the process as effective flghting formations, four German and eight Italian divisions. Egypt Was SUVfed and the flnal blow dealt to German hopes of reaching the Nile Valley.