The Southland Times WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1942. A New Battle for Egypt

Southland Times, Issue 24838, 2 September 1942, Page 4

The Southland Times WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1942. A New Battle for Egypt

INCREASED air activity during the past few days seemed to announce that the lull in the Western Desert was almost ended. Now comes news that Field-Marshal Rommel is attacking, and there can be little doubt that this is the beginning of a new battle for Egypt. It is a battle which should decide whether or not the Nile Delta is to remain in British hands. Theie is no room for retreat, or for tactical manoeuvre on the scale usually attempted in desert warfare. The Bth Army is holding the last defensible position west of Alexandria: .a break-through on the El Alamein line must be prevented at all costs. It is equally plain, however, that the enemy’s task should be extremely difficult. The front is only 35 miles wide, and the terrain includes natural obstacles which restrict the area where fighting can take place. This robs the Germans of two advantages which they have always tried to exploit in their mechanized warfare —the element of surprise, and the rapid change, of direction in a search for weak points. A mass attack on a narrow front is the basic method of a blitzkrieg; but it can be effective only when the area selected for the break-through is part of a wider front that can be “rolled up” once the tanks have created an artificial flank. When large forces are known to be approaching a wide front the defenders cannot tell where the tank columns will converge for the main attack, and they are unable to concentrate reserves quickly enough to close the gap. But at El Alamein these conditions do not elist. The entire front is narrow enough to be strongly defended in depth. One end of the line rests on the coast; the other fades off into the marshes of the Quattara depression. To a certain extent Rommel may have attempted to recover the element of surprise by throwing the Italians against the main positions (presumably in the centre) while his own armoured divisions headed for the southern flank. The terrain on this flank was reported a few days ago to offer “good going.” Moreover, it has never become clear which side controls the ridges nearest the depression. During the British counter-attack in July some of these positions changed hands several times, and when the movement subsided it was reported that the Germans were busily digging themselves in. According to the correspondent of The Daily Telegraph, the operations showed resemblances to the fighting on the Western Front in the last war: advances and retreats over short distances, fierce struggles for small positions, and the appearance of the trench system. Guns arid Armour

Rommel’s purpose will certainly be to make an end of positional warfare. The lack of space for manoeuvre forces him to invite a decisive clash between guns and armour. Artillery has played an increasingly important part in the campaign since the Bth Army made its stand at El Alamein. The British positions will be protected by interlocked fire power. To force a way through the bottleneck into open country that swifter movement, Rommel will probably use heavy tanks and mobile artillery. Even though he strikes at the southern flank his advance will be in the nature of a frontal assault. In a battle of this type the deciding factor must inevitably be the superiority of metal. Rommel is a brilliant tactician; but the opportunities for tactical surprise may be fewer than at any previous stage of the campaign. The Germans will have to rely mainly on fire power and armour. They are known to have received large reinforcements; and they are not likely to have begun an offensive without believing that they possessed the advantage in weight and number. For in a clash of this kind equality is not enough. Rommel’s problem is not merely to concentrate sufficient forces for an initial attack, but also to bring up his reserves along an exposed supply route. The Royal Air Force has been noticeably active during the past few days, and will continue to keep up the pressure now that the enemy’s front line formations are in motion. In this part of the struggle the Sth Army has an advantage which may help to offset any disparity in reinforcements. It has been reported, however, that replacements of men, guns, tanks and planes have been rushed to Egypt “at an astonishing speed” during the past six weeks. The attack will be formidable; but the defence will be stubborn. The British forces have a new commanding officer. General Alexander has taken over the command at a critical period; he faces a strategic situation which was not of his own making. Yet he goes into action with a great reputation, and his troops are seasoned in desert warfare. The campaign in Egypt has brought victories, defeats and many surprises. It enters a new phase at a time when the situation in Russia makes the safety of the Middle East a question of supreme importance. British people will therefore turn their attention to Egypt with a full realization of the issues at stake, and of the difficult task which confronts their fighting men. They have learned that when the dust swirls above a new desert battle it is unwise to speak prematurely of the outcome. Once again they must wait for the news that will tell them which way the battle is going.