ROMMEL’S NEW DIVISIONS

Evening Star, Issue 24284, 27 August 1942, Page 5

ROMMEL’S NEW DIVISIONS

ALLIES WILL USE HEW TANK TACTICS LONDON, Aug. 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 Times ’ correspondent in the Western Desert. “It is impossible to say from which side the attack will come, but that it is coming is obvious to all who have watched the ebb and flow of successive desert campaigns. “ Both sides have been heavily reinforced. Field-Marshal Rommel, as far as can be gathered, lias succeeded in getting to the front an entire new. division—the 164th from Crete—plus a new Italian division, besides building up the 90th Light Division, which was considerably reduced. “ In addition there is evidence that two parachute regiments, one German and one Italian, have taken up their, positions alongside 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 on the edge of the Qattara depression is exceptionally good. The enemy air force has also suspiciously inactive recently, suggesting that it is being held back for some particular operation. With almost windless days, brilliant moonlight nights, and a slight decrease in the beat l dust, and flies, conditions are ideal for the battle, which is likely to start this week, or otherwise not until later next month. The Cairo correspondent of the ‘Daily Telegraph’ says: “'There are good grounds for confidence. We have profited from the defeat in the Knightsbridge and Acroma fishting, and- different tank tactics will be emnlovcd.” The Salonika representative of ‘ The Times ’ reports that four trains, each of 30 wagons, carrying German troops and some Italians from the north, arrived last week, presumably bound for Africa.