ADVANCE OF EIGHT MILES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 2 September 1942, Page 2

ADVANCE OF EIGHT MILES

Rommel's Push in Southern Sector ALLIES HOLDING FIRM IN CENTRE

(Rec. 1.25 p.m.) London, Sept. 1 Field-Marshal Rommel has advanced eight miles in the new push in the southern sector of the El Alamein front says Reuter s airo correspondent. The advance was made through Allied minefields. The Axis attempt to punch through the centre of the LI Alamein line has been firmly held and the situation there is described as being fully under control. Heavy fighting continues in the southern sector. Ihe Germans are using all types of equipment, including heavy tanks and divebombers.

Another Cairo message states that by the light of the waning moon two strong Axis columns thrust towards General Montgomery’s fluid southern sector at one o’clock yestetfday morning. Allied artillery and Air Forces vigorously attacked German tanks, accompanied by big formations of motor transports, as they pushed forward along the dry riverbeds. Rommel’s Nineteenth Light Infantry was heavily shelled as it became entangled in the minefield. It was then engaged by our infantry. Allied tank forces did not contact the enemy throughout yesterday. The Axis forces have slightly withdrawn from the point reached a little to the north-east of El Himeimat, which is a hill position around which the main fighting proceeded all day. This is the farthest point of the Axis advance. EXTREME CAUTION USED The British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Army says Rommel’s advance was characterised by the extreme caution of the German tanks, mostly Mark Ill’s, which are not attacking in a body, but are widely spread out in clusters. Rommel transferred supplies, ammunition, fuel and other stores on Tuesday and Wednesday from the north to the south. Allied Air Forces observed the movement and severely pasted the transport. Dust storms aided the early stages of Rommel’s attack particularly, because it interfered with refuelling of our planes. After visibility improved in the battle area yesterday unusually heavy concentrations of Stukas appeared. Allied fighters dispersed them and forced them to jettison their bombs, sometimes over their own lines. Despite yesterday’s intensive air battles the R.A.F. has not lost a single fighter pilot. The newest United States medium bombers in the Middle East, the “Mitchell 825” type, have gone into the battle with all-American crews, and already have inflicted heavy damage on the enemy. The “Mitchell 825” is the fastest aircraft of its kind in Egypt.—P.A.