MAIN ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1942, Page 3

MAIN ATTACK

IN THE COASTAL BELT SERIES of separate battles. POSITION OF MEDITERRANEAN FLEET. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 29. “Tonight, within 150 miles of Alexandria, the greatest armoured battle known in North Africa is sweeping backward and forward along the coast south-east of Mersa Matruh,” says the “Daily Mail’s” Cairo correspondent. “The Eighth Army is meeting the full weight of Rommel’s drive over a wide belt of the desert, but the main attack is confined to the coastal belt. “The fighting is going on non-stop under a brilliant moon. There is a whole series of separate battles rather than one big battle, and the pattern is constantly changing. “The battle is still in the hush-hush stage, and the correspondents are warned that it is intended to maintain a clamlike silence. Mention of all sorts of apparently innocent details is banned. “Our battle groups —the term is chosen to conceal their composition—are only in action when the circumstances are favourable. The Axis forces are more or less in the centre of the battle area and the Imperial troops are round them. Thus, we are attacking inward at an enormous target in which there are many soft and vulnerable elements. The enemy is attacking outward against our mobile units, which only do battle when the circumstances are favourable.” The “Daily Telegraph’s” corresponpondent with the Eighth Army says: “Facing the enemy’s admitted superiority in tanks, our armoured forces have performed miracles in impeding the German-Italian advance. Again and again, our armoured cars have made assaults on the advancing Axis columns. We are constantly fighting for time while reserves in men and armour are being hurried up. The “Daily Mail’s” correspondent says: “The position of the Eastern Mediterranean Fleet, which is based on Alexandria, assumes a grave aspect. We must face the prospect of heavy raids on the port. Our fighters would be unable simultaneously to beat off the Luftwaffe from Alexandria and support the desert army.”