IN FULL SWING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1942, Page 4

IN FULL SWING

BATTLE OF THE GAP IN LIBYA HEAVY TOLL TAKEN OF AXIS TANKS & TRANSPORT. SMASHING AIR ATTACKS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 1.22- p.m.) RUGBY, June 2. “The Battle of the Gap is in full swing,” writes an agency correspondent with the Eighth Army. “On Monday, despite dust storms, hard fighting was in progress, with all land arms engaged, with the Axis forces east of our lines. These forces are exerting pressure, especially between the two gaps. “In the northern sector, our troops are heavily pressing the enemy, who is not at present attemptig to move' westward through the gap. He is probably attempting to enlarge one gap. The main Axis forces are twenty miles away from the British lines, where fighting is taking place between infantry. “Now that Rommel has regrouped his main forces, he may launch another offensive, for which the British are ready. It is known that his losses are much greater than the British.” Details of the fighting given in a Canberra message, from a special dispatch received by the Australian Air Minister, include a report that trapped German panzers are being battered to a standstill from the air after attacks extending over days. Blows from the air 0 have disorganised the enemy’s campaign. British air power has been directed at a gap (through the minefield) and at one time the channel was filled with flying ■planes, spraying transports, mechanised forces, ammunition and petrol dumps with bullets at point-blank range. Mechanised forces which escaped wrecked themselves in collisions in blinding dust storms, or crashed into bomb craters.