EGYPTIAN DEFENCES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 260, 1 October 1940, Page 7

EGYPTIAN DEFENCES.

EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS

“FREE”. FRENCHMEN’S HELP

LONDON, Sept. 29. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent with a British forward brigade in Egypt, on revisiting this position, which had been closed for some months, found improvements and extensions of the defences which seem to make them completely impregnable. He noticed unmistakable evidences of a strengthening of the whole Egyptian defences during a 200-milo journey across the desert.

A member of the ‘‘free” French legion serving in the Western Desert is a French commandant who fought in the last war at Verdun. He escaped into Palestine from Syria a few hours after General Mittelhauser had laid down arms.

About 80 per cent, of the legion are Frenchmen and the rest include some Spahis and Zouaves. These troops displayed first-class fighting ability during the early stages of the Italian advance. With armoured cars they attacked the head of the enemy advancing column', and 6uch was their spirit that in spite of the enemy’s great numerical superiority the. column was forced to halt. Fire was opened at 700 yards. The leading Italian motor-cyclists flung themselves to the ground and waited till they were reinforced by artillery and machineguns before replying. When the French began to withdraw a 15 cwt. gun lorry was stuck in the sand. The soldiers refused to abandon it, though there was heavv fire from 400 yards. They saved the gun and tile lorry and retired in good order. The valuable assistance which these French troops have given 4o the British force in the Western Desert is praised in a statement from British headquarters in Cairo to-day.