BIGGER GAP IN AXIS DEFENCES

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXV, Issue 254, 28 October 1942, Page 5

BIGGER GAP IN AXIS DEFENCES

STEADY PROGRESS IN EGYPT CAPTURED GROUND RETAINED

B.O.W.

RUGBY, Oct. 27.

A Cairo communique states: "During Sunday night our forces extended the area which they had occupied in the enemy's defences. Our gains were maintained yestrday. Fighting continues. "Large-scal6 air operations continued over the battle area and forward landing-grounds night and day on Sunday and Monday. Bombers and fighter-bombers attacked a variety of targets, and our fighters operating day and night on a large scale shot down 14 enemy aircraft. "Our light bombers destroyed an additional Messerschmitt, and small arms fire accounted for a further Messerschmitt. Continual fighter patrols were made as a protection for our land forces against enemy activity, which was on an increased scale. "An enemy tanker off Tobruk burst into flames, and a large enemy merchantman blew up, following hits with bombs and air torpedoes during attacks on a convoy yesterday. After one attack our longrange fighters shot down two Heinkels. "Our Malta fighters shot down at least three Messerschmitts during attacks on the island yesterday, which were 011 a slightly reduced scale. "From the above operations ten of our aircraft are missing." In the fourth day of the battle in. the Western Deser't the 8^h Army ccnsolidated itst early gains and threw back enemy counterattacks, states the Cairo correspondent of the Associated Press. Rommel's main positions are penetrated at some points, but so far there is no report of the main forces meeting. The 8th Army appears to be moving deliberately and cautiously while consolidating each gain before driving on to the next objective. The enemy has put up stiff resistance, and at some points there has been hand-to-hand fighting in infantry night advances. Reufeeiis correspondent reports that the enemy launched unsuccessful counter-attacks which were suitably dealt with by the Allied air forces, which are maintaining terrific pressure. There is no concealing the fact that a hard task faces the 8th Army in battering down the concentrated enemy forces, says the British United Press representative. Thus, even the slightest gains of ground are important over terrain where for the past four months the enemy has been digging in behind a protective screen of minefields with considerable defences in depth.

NEWS VERY SPARSE. The news reaching London of the present Allied attack in Egypt is probably more sparse than during any previous large - scale operation in the Western Desert. Little beyond the brief but encouraging details contained in the communique is known. ' It is widely accepted by Press military commentators that at least several days must elapse before anything like a decision can be achieved. The Times says that experience of such actions shows that such struggles as are now to be expected are apt in the early stages to sway grimly backwards and forwards over the same ground for many days before the resistance of the enemy can be broken and a way cleared for an armoured assault. Rommel to-day occupies a stronger defence position than any he has held in the North African war and has had an abundanee of time to fortify it to a great depth. Allied infantry have successfully traversed a minefield and demolished some other lines of his system. A substantial number of prisoners has been taken, but the onset of the armoured forces, which is the main battle, has barely begun. ALLIES HAVE A MILLION MEN. Rrussels radio says that the Allies in North Africa have one million men, 1000 tanks, and a large number of aircraft. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent with the 8th Army says that Rommel's most powerful counter-attacks are direct ed against the Australians, who beat off five distinct blows within a few hours. London newspapers publish the first radio pictures from the Western Desert. The most dramatic shows soldiers in tin hats and shorts lcaping to attack with fixed bay one ts througli a 'maze of enemy shell-fire. Action along the whole front is being characterised by the big gun bombardments on our side, says the British United Press representative. While along some sections of the front the Allies' gains are being consolidated, operations elsewhere are aimed at destroying enemy pockets left behind during the initial advance. The Italian and German air forces were more active over the forward positions. The Luftwaffe's heaviest attack of the battle was a dusk raid on Sunday against the British front line. Axis planes encountaered intense ground fire and Allied night-fighters were' quickly and effectively on the job and drove off the Stukas.