EXPECTED SOON

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 282, 27 August 1942, Page 5

EXPECTED SOON

Resumption Of Fighting In Egypt CONDITIONS IDEAL

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright (Received August 26, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 25.

As the August moon rises to the full, expectation increases that the desert lull will soon be shattered and the battle for Egypt resumed, says the correspondent of “The Times” in the Western Desert. It is impossible to say from which- side the attack will come, but that it is coining is obvious to all who have watched the ebb and flow of successive desert campaigns. Both sides have been heavily reinforced. Rommel, as far as can be gathered, has succeeded in getting to the front an entire new division —the 164th from Crete—plus -a new Italian division, besides building up the Ninetieth Light Division, which we considerably reduced. In addition, thefe is evidence that one German and one Italian parachute regiment have taken up their positions beside the armoured units.

Features of special significance are reports of considerable movement from the southern end of the El Alamein line, where it was mistakenly thought that the nature of the ground precluded operations, but actually the ground at the edge of -the Quattara Depression is exceptionally good; also the enemy air force has been suspiciously inactive recently, suggesting it is being held back for some particular operation.

With almost windless days, brilliant moonlight nights and a slight decrease in heat, dust and flies, conditions are ideal for the battle which is likely this week, or not till later next month. The Cairo correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says there are good grounds for confidence. Wo have profited from the defeat in the Knightsbridge and Acronia fighting, and different tank tactics will be employed. The Salonika representative of “The Times” reports that four trains, each of 30 wagons, carrying Genjnani troops and also some Italians from the north, arrived, last week, presumably for Africa. Patrol Activity. A Middle East communique states: “During the night of August 23 our patrols continued to be active, and in the northern sector attacked enemy patrols. Yesterday there were artillery exchanges in the central sector. Otherwise there is nothing to report. Air activity over the battle -area consisted of sweeps and raids by our fighters and fighter-bombers,” Seven, enemy tanks were destroyed at a range of SI miles by an artillery battery in. the El Alamein area recently. An officer on reconnaissance saw 12 tanks within 100 yards of his ear and gave the position -to his guns. The first shells fell right on the mark, and the second round set fire to three tanks. The remainder were obscured in smoke and dust, but when it cleared there were seven out of -action. Later the officer saw that'other tanks had been put out of action by the earlier bombardments.

TALKED WITH TROOPS

Mr. Churchill’s Second Visit To Desert

LONDON, August 25.

Visiting the desert to inspect the troops of the Eighth Army on his way back to England from Moscow, Mr. Churchill, accompanied by Generals Alexander, Montgomery and Brooke, drove slowly past a long line of General Grant tanks, and then greeted the New Zealanders. He congratulated General Freyberg on the New Zealanders’ vital and gallant part in the Battle for Egypt. Mr. Churchill also visited the British armoured forces and infantry. Inspecting the infantry, he told a group of sergeants: “You’ve got to get your own back on these people. Great events are afoot Everybody in England is watching now. All eyes are on you. Good luck.” The Prime Minister motored past dozens of new gunpits and acres of new minefields south of the Ruweisat Ridge, where the convoy pulled up. Anti-aircraft gunners stood in readiness and watchers swept the sky with field-glasses, but the secret had been well kept, aud no enemy planes appeared. N.Z. Cemetery Visited.

Mr. Churchill visited a New Zealand cemetery, where a few Britons and Germans are also buried, all recently killed in action. Then he entered a “Honey” tank, in which he travelled over the desert to the edge of the Qattara Depression. While in Cairo Mr. Churchill again plunged into the work of overhauling the groat Middle East war machine. In Egypt, Mr. Churchill conferred with Generals Auchinleck, Alexander, Air Marshal Tedder, and Maxwell, Prince Mahomet Ali, heir-apparent to the Egyptian throne, and the vice-pre-sident of the Greek Council of Ministers, M. Canelopoulos. Mr. Churchill gave much attention to Iraq, and he conferred with the Shah of Persia at Teheran, both on hi.s way to Moscow’ and on the way back. Sir Kinahin Cornwallis, the British Ambassador to Iraq, General Quinan, G.O.C. Tenth Army, and the Commander of the R.A.F. in Iraq came to Cairo for conferences with him, and General Gort came from Malta. Sober Confidence.

"We are determined to light for ■lgypt and the Nile Valley as if it was he soil of England,” said Mr.

Churchill at. a Tress conference in Cairo on his way back to England from Moscow. “I feel sober confidence in the future. I feel the historic and epic struggle of the desert will come to a victorious conclusion, though the road may be long. Everything that can be brought by ships and air to drive back the enemy in such a way as his power to injure will be gone will be done. We are determined to do everything in our power to that end. “I would like very much to thank flic whole body of correspondents, British and Allied. on the manner in which they have identified themselves with the Army ami its interests, and wit It the struggle that is going on. Instead of seeking cheap sensationalism, they have been governed by a high sense of responsibility.” Mr. Harriman, President Roosevelt’s personal representative at the recent Moscow talks, told (he London Press today that lie is shortly returning to Washington to report to the President. He said that though he could say nothing about the substance of the Moscow talks, he found the same determination and confidence in the Russians as lie found on his last visit with Lord Beaverbrook. The “Daily Telegraph.” in a leader referring to Mr. Churchill’s return, says: “We can be certain of one thing ■ —lds journey is a prelude to battle, and will help to make the battle, when it comes, a prelude to victory.”