BITTER BATTLE

Southland Times, Issue 24891, 3 November 1942, Page 5

BITTER BATTLE

Axis Punches Hole In Allied Trap (Rec. midnight). LONDON, Nov. 2. A bitter non-stop battle is still raging on the coast, where Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel’s 90th Light Infantry Division, driving from the west, has succeeded in punching a hole in the Allied trap. The British United Press correspondent, in a dispatch from the battlefield, says: “Our scorching artillery fire has pinned down a large body of Germans, also a battalion of Mussolini’s crack troops. Despite its terror, grimness and bloody slaughter it is an inspiring, heartening picture because for once we saw Nazis and fascists at our mercy with the hammers of Hell pounding around their heads. I have so often seen it the other way. Our offensive has been slowed down to some extent, but the enemy is feeling the blow severely and is unable to mount a thorough-going counterattack. Although the enemy has hit back again he has not thrown us off any important objective we have taken, but until we make a break through the attack will not be a complete success.” ALLIED AIR ATTACKS A Cairo message states that Axis troops seen at wash-tubs and messes suffered heavy losses from low-level machine-gun fire when Allied fighters- attacked a suspected panzer headquarters. Australian Air Force fighter-bombers attacking Bagush damaged a dozen gliders and shot up the radio station and a train, the flames from which were visible for 40 miles. Fighter-bombers also swooped down on Mersa Matruh docks and inflicted heavy casualties on dock-work-ers and troops. Other Australian pilots strafed troops and transports on the Soilum-Sidi Barrani road and left numerous supply dumps ablaze. The Axis air losses included five out of 20 dive-bombers which were returning to their base from a raid, escorted by Messerschmitts. The German News Agency claims that the first encounter between thearmoured forces in Egypt has ended in a clear Axis victory and a disorderly, chaotic British withdrawal. Allied infantry, after grim fighting on Saturday, succeeded in breaking into German positions in the northern sector, in the direction of Sidi-El-Abdrahman. The Allies then hurled in a strong armoured force, supported by another infantry division in an effort to take advantage of the local success. A thin chain of German hedgehogs was able to stem the Allied forces until FieldMarshal Rommel personally led a « German-Italian tank and infantry attack, which forced the enemy to abandon the entire territory gained after suffering heavy tank losses. NEW ZEALANDERS IN HEAVY FIGHTING All Objectives Reached (Official War Correspondent) CAIRO, October 31. The New Zealanders’ part in the Bth Army’s offensive against the Axis, although not as spectacular as their former actions on the El Alamein front, nevertheless has been of considerable importance. Their operations at the moment cannot be discussed, but they still have a vital role. Two brigades were in the forefront of the night attack when LieutenantGeneral B. L. Montgomery launched his drive just a week ago. One Auckland battalion and one South Island battalion which went to England were involved in heavy fighting against enemy mortar, machine-gun and antitank fire, but in spite of it and with customary determination they reached all their objectives. The other formation, which included a New Zealand force of the youngest battalions, had an easier passage. Once all the objectives had been taken the New Zealanders spent the time in quick effective consolidation. This time the New Zealanders had solid tank support and the enemy had little chance of dislodging them. He tried but he failed. For the type of actions which the New Zealanders have so far fought since the Bth Army went into the new attack the New Zealand casualties are regarded as surprisingly light. The medical officer who performed a remarkable desert operation mentioned in a dispatch a few days ago was a well-known Auckland man, Major Donald McKenzie. He was formerly on the staff of the Auckland Public Hospital and for the past two years has been a surgeon at one of the New Zealand base hospitals in the Middle East. DESTRUCTION BY R.A.F. (8.0.W.) RUGBY, November 1. During October the Royal Air Force . destroyed in the air in the Middle East 275 enemy aircraft for the loss of 12. The figure 275 is exclusive of planes destroyed on the ground and also excludes probably twice that number probably destroyed or damaged.