LULL MAY SOON END IN DESERT

Southland Times, Issue 24833, 27 August 1942, Page 5

LULL MAY SOON END IN DESERT

Both Sides Prepare (Rec. 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 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 correspondent of The Tirhes 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 Erwin Rommel, as far as can be gathered, has 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 Motorized Division, which was considerably reduced. In addition, there is evidence that one German and one Italian parachute regiments have taken up positions alongside the armoured units. Features of special significance are reports of considerable movement from - the southern end of the Alamein line, where it was mistakenly thought the nature of the ground precluded operations, but actually the ground on the edge of the Quattara Depression is exceptionally good. Also the enemy air force has been suspiciously inactive recently, suggesting that it is held back for some particular operation. CONDITIONS IDEAL With almost windless days, brilliant moonlight nights and a slight decrease in heat, dust and flies, conditions are ideal for the battle, which is likely to be fought this week or not until later next month.

The Daily Telegraph’s Cairo correspondent says: “There are good grounds for confidence that we have profited from the defeat in the KnightsbridgeAcroma fighting and different tank tactics will be employed.” The Salonika representative of The Times reports that four trains, each of 30 waggons, carrying German troops, , also some Italians, from the north arI rived last week, presumably for Africa.