PENETRATION OF AXIS DEFENCES

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 253, 27 October 1942, Page 5

PENETRATION OF AXIS DEFENCES

8th army retains its gains ALLIED AIR CONTROL ABSOLUTE

P.A. Gable.

LONDON, October 26.

"The enemv has been unable to dislodge our troops from ihe areas already gained, ' ' states the latest Cairo communique. "There has been a number of minor engagements, in which armour was involved on both sides. "Up to 6 p.m. on Sunday 1450 German and Italian prisoners had been counted. "Large-scale Allied air attacks continued over the battle area during Saturday1 night and on Sunday. "Enemy air activity has increased, but our pilots had a successful day, shooting down at least seven planes and damaging many others. "Off Tobruk we bombed a merchantman, which blew up and entirely disappeared. Our long-range fighter planes, which were engaged in this operation, shot down two Junkers 88s, one Dornier 24, and a . Caproni 42. Long-range fighters also attacked a large enemy formation and destroyed four Junkers 88s and damaged others. "Air attacks against Malta continued. Our fighters there shot down an enemy fighter and ground fire destroyed two more. Including the large-scale operations over the battle area, three of our planes failed to return yesterday.' ' After bitter fighting the 8th Army made a general advance in the attacking sector, says the Daily Mail's Western Desert correspondent. Our troops broke through two lines of dug-in positions and are now attemptingl to breach the thirdl line, which is not dug-in, but is strongly held. Resistance is fierce everywhere. The enemy has not yet been thrust completely from an important ridge, where fighting continues. Our troops have made a bridgehead of considerable value and the immediate task is to extend this bridgehead and clear the way for our main armour. Some infantry units have pushed forward five miles, including two miles through the enemy positions. Rommel's front has been estimated at four miles in depth, including one rnile of minefields ; therefore, our advanced units are about half-way through the enemy defence zone. Reuter's Cairo correspondent says that from the start of General Montgomery's offensive, the Allied air striking force has enjoyed absolute command of the air. It is a little too early to say whether our air power has completely grounded the Luftwaffe and Regia Aercnautica (Italian Air Force), but they have been clearly outclassed at the most vital time. The troops of the 8th Army, for the first time, in the critical 24 hours of the offensive, were able to watch the astonishing spectacle of transport and supplies passing to the forward areas completely unmolested by Stukas. Tough desert fighters in those vital hours smashed gaps in the main enemy positions and held them in face of all the fury the Axis could muster. There has been minor tank fighting, but so far there is no news of anything in the nature of a major armoured clash. Axis air reinforcements have been considerable of recent weeks, and the enemy cannot be expected to delay much longer throwing in all his available air resources in an effort to stem the rain of bombs on his forward positions. Allied air operations are being stepped up daily.