SPEEDY ADVANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1942, Page 3

SPEEDY ADVANCE

MADE BY ROMMEL’S FORCES ATTEMPT TO DRIVE TO DELTA INDICATED. BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS HASTENING FORWARD. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, June 26. “Our covering forces again engaged the enemy advance troops yesterday,” states a communique from the Cairo headquarters. “The enemy’s main forces moved along the axis of the desert railway and last night the leading elements were 30 miles wes£ of Mersa ■ Matruh. Our main forces were not *. engaged.” Correspondents have been speaking of the coming battle for Mersa Matruh, east of which the Imperial forces are reorganising for the defence, while our main armoured forces are somewhere to the south. The enemy has again spread himself over a wide area of the desert. Three columns have been reported, and enemy forces have been vigorously attacked by British and Indian units west and south of Mersa Matruh. One correspondent says that the enemy may attempt to pass across the desert well to the south. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent with the Eighth Army says: “Rommel is advancing with surprising speed even for armoured columns. The situation is serious. I believe he is attempting a blitz against the Delta.” R.A.F. pilots report that the enemy are advancing both by day and night, which explains the speed. ‘•‘What is left of the Eighth Army is probably’ being reorganised behind comparatively weak rearguards,” says the military correspondent, of the “Daily Telegraph.” “Military reinforcements of every nature must be hastening forward to check Rommel’s advance and prepare a counter-stroke.” “The Times” correspondent in Cairo said: “There is no hiding the gravity of the news. The positions round which a desperate battle is probably raging may be considered one of our last ditches. There is practically nothing else between them and Alexandria and Cairo. However, reinforcements have arrived, and more are en route, and our commander probably has strong forces at his disposal.” The correspondent adds that more heavy bombers are badly needed. The Cairo correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the advancing Axis armoured forces include recently-captured British and American tanks, and also a number of French tanks, while much other captured material is being used. The “Evening Standard’s” military writer declares that Rommel has a new model Junkers 88 dive-bomber which automatically pulls out of the dive when the bomb is released, enabling the pilot to concentrate on the. target. The new model has played an important part in Rommel’s advance in the past few days, and he is no doubt relying on it to open up the road to Egypt. Rome yesterday claimed the occupation of Sidi Barrani.