BITTER FIGHTING

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 37, 7 November 1942, Page 7

BITTER FIGHTING

Retirement “According To Plan” LONDON, November 5. A German communique states: “’lhe Axis tank army is putting up very strong resistance against the massed enemy attacks. Our troops in some sectors have retired according to plan to a prepared second line.” An Italian communique says: All yesterday between El Alamein and Fuka, there was bitter and bloody tank and infantry fighting. The Italians and Germans, after the strongest resistance, withdrew in the evening to new lines further west. The British losses of men and material are heavy. Our losses, are severe. Raids on Tobruk and Benghazi caused considerable damage.” Rome radio says that the British offensive aims at completely chasing the Axis forces out of Africa, reopening the Mediterranean to the British Meet tor eventual attack on the European mainland, preferably through Italy. A message received in Zurich from Berlin says that German,.military authorities emphasize Rommel s supply dimculties, and point out that it may be necessary to withdraw, thus pushing the supply difficulties on to the British. . The Berlin radio is non-commital about the fighting in Egypt. It said today that it was not altogether unexpected that the British, having concentrated all their forces at one point, should achieve what it called local successes. One had to wait and see how the battle was going before passing final judgment on the effect of the British offensive. -