AXIS DESERT POSITIONS HEAVILY POUNDED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 289, 4 September 1942, Page 5

AXIS DESERT POSITIONS HEAVILY POUNDED

Artillery And Air Bombardment

ALLIED DEFENCE LINE INTACT EVERYWHERE LONDON, September 3. During last night no land operations developed on any sector of the El Alamein front, according to today’s Cairo communique, which said that yesterday in the southern sector there was no major engagement, but the enemy was subjected to a heavy and continuous artillery and air bombardment. The principal target was the enemy’s armoured force and transport concentrations which remained in the El Himeimat and Ruweisat area. “The enemy has not penetrated our organized defence areas in any part of the front,” said Lt.-General B. L. Montgomery, commander of the Eighth Army, yesterday.

During yesterday, according to the Cairo communique, a record number of bomber sorties was carried out against the enemy. The enemy was also active in the air, and our fighters shot down 15 of his planes. Correspondents reported that the front yesterday was generally quiet. No armoured clashes were reported up to 3 p.m. Imperial forces in the southern sector heavily shelled and bombed Axis forces.

The military writer of the “Daily Express” says that American reports suggest that another British division has reached Cairo.

TANKS IN ACTION British Refuse To Be Drawn

(Received September 3, 7 p.m.) LONDON, September 2. British tanks, waiting in “hull down” positions south of Ruweisat Ridge early yesterday, sent salvo after salvo crashing into Rommel’s armoured forces as they thrust across the desert, reports Reuter’s correspondent on the El Alamein front. It was the signal for the start of the first great tank battle since the Axis forces were halted at El Alamein two months ago. New Zealanders and Australians in the early hours carried out raids in the northern and central sectors, but no details are at present available. The Initial tank clash occurred an hour before sunset on Monday. Our armoured forces had waited, all day for the panzers to approach, refusing to be tempted from their own advantageous position and rush into an engagement in which they, might suffer from the enemy’s BS-millimetre guns, which" generally closely support the tanks. General Grant tanks opened up from behind the ridges and others moved forward, while six-pounder antitank guns fired in support. The battle raged till dusk. A number of German Mark 111 and Mark IV tanks are believed to have been knocked out, though not necessarily destroyed. After dark Rommel’s forces went into lagers. Using flares, our planes located a heavy concentration of enemy motor transport in a depression, and also a number of enemy tanks with their tired crews asleep beside them in another depression. Wellington bombers attacked these two lagers and started fires in what is described as the most successful night raid for several months.

The tank battle was rejoined yesterday, but the outcome cannot be estimated at this stage. The terrain is described by a correspondent as firm, and good country for armour —fairly stony plains, broken here and there by depressions and low ridges. Describing the British line at El Alamein, a correspondent says that the southern sector is deep and fluid. There is no rigid line, and there has always been a no-man’s land between the enemy forces and our own. News of the enemy moving eastward should not be interpreted as the enemy being behind the British positions.' There is plenty of elbow-room in front of the enemy. Persistent Allied Bombing.

Soon after dawn yesterday the first of the bomber formations joined up with its fighter escort and carried off the first load of bombs, which fell in a concentrated pattern among enemy land forces and transport vehicles not long after the Axis troops had extinguished tiie fires started by our night bombers. By noon seven separate bomber raids had been made on the enemy.

These highly successful raids by light bombers with lighter escort have begun to reach an intensity comparable with that in the earl-

ier campaign round Knightsbridge. Evidence shows that considerable damage was done io the enemy

ground forces. 'J’lie first big clash came in the afternoon, when several of our squadrons patrolling over the battle area encountered four Messerschmitts, all of which were probably destroyed or damaged. A few minutes later fighters sighted a formation of at least 40 stukas. escorted by more than 30 lighters. Within two minutes the whole formation was in retreat without achieving any dive-bombing. Four stukas and one Messerschmitt were seen crashing in flames, and several others were probably destroyed or damaged. The enemy casualties for the day were six bombers and live fighters.

Our casualties were 11, but four of the pilots are safe. Further news of the battle in Egypt is awaited in Loudon with the keenest attention and the most eager hopes. The latest news shows that armoured forces were engaged on both sides, but past experience does not lead to the expectation of an early decision. Tank battles have been fought for weeks in the past, while the reinforcement of both armies during the last two months points to another bitter and bloody battle. The immense issues at stake are well appreciated. Though the land, sea, and air factors are wholly interlocked, the struggle is seen as a continuing battle for the command of the communications of the Mediterranean. In the words of “The Times,” “today the keys of the Mediterranean are held in the first place on land.”

N.Z. ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNNERS

Five Planes In One Day

(Official "War Correspondent, N.Z.IS.F.) WESTERN DESERT, September 1. A record number of five planes was brought down by New Zealand antiaircraft gunners yesterday. The performance was exceptionally creditable as three of the planes were fast Messerschmitts 109 F. The other two were Maachis 202. One plane, evidently carrying a bomb-load, just disintegrated in mid-air, but the others crashed and caught fire. The pilot of one parachuted to within a few yards of the headquarters of the anti-aircraft regiment which had shot him down. It was a busy day for the antiaircraft batteries, but many of the planes seen were concentrating on other areas. The New Zealanders escaped with only light raids. A dust storm hindered artillery activity, but our guns were engaged dispersing tank and lorry formations.

Strong patrols, accompanied by tanks which went out from New Zealand lines last night, performed their tasks without much incident. One tank crashed over a lorry and an antitank gun, destroyed several machineguns and overran infantry in weapon pits. Another lorry was destroyed with a hand-grenade. The divisional cavalry has been active and this morning captured an armoured car. THE EIGHTH ARMY British Troops Bear Brunt Of Attack (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 2. ■ The bulk of the forces now comprising the Eighth Army are from the United Kingdom, and those regiments in the south where the brunt of the attack has fallen are almost entirely English.. MR. WILLKIE IN CAIRO CAIRO, September 2. Mr Wendell Willkie has arrived.