FATE OF EGYPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1942, Page 3

FATE OF EGYPT

AT STAKE IN BATTLE NO TURNING BACK FOR EITHER SIDE. BRITISH CORRESPONDENT’S VIEW, (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 3. A communique from General Auchinleck’s headquarters states that during yesterday enemy forces rnide a general attack on our line. Our mobile forces counter-attacked the enemy’s flank, inflicting losses. After the battie the enemy with- , drew to the west, leaving our posi- ; tions intact. . The communique reports very in- , tense attacks on the enemy forces and ■ bases by our planes. Enemy air activity over the battlefield somewhat in- < creased yesterday. Our planes destroy- ; ed eight enemy aircraft, and seven of ours are missing from all the operations. , j Correspondents say that- the Allied ■ forces struck with everything they . could collect, tanks, artillery, planes , and troops participating. The “Daily ; Telegraph’s” correspondent says that . immediately Rommel launched his ■ powerful armoured attack against our Alamein positions yesterday afternoon . our forces smashed at the enemy’s ( right flank and rear—a manoeuvre , which had been carefully planned. Rommel delayed his assault till the full , glare of the sun was in the eyes of our troops, but by attacking from the west we turned this advantage against him. The battle raged all the afternoon, in-i creasing every hour in intensity, and the issue was still in doubt last night. “One thing stand'; out, namely, that both sides have thrown in everything. The enemy will either take Egypt or be destroyed; the Allies will save Egypt or be destroyed. There is scant, chance of either side turning back now,” the correspondent adds. i,

ENEMY COLUMN MAY BE ATTEMPTING FLANK ATTACK. ACROSS QUATTARA kARSHES. LONDON, July 2. The danger to Ekypt is threefold, says the military writer of the “Daily Express.” In the first place, Rommels Afrika Korps maintains a temporary superiority in armour and guns. Secondly, Rommel has an air-borne army in Crete and Greece which may be thrown into the attack from the rear. Thirdly, one Axis force may try to hold the British west of Alexandria while another attempts the difficult crossing of the Quattara salt marshes, which merge on the Nile. Lack of water' on the way to the Nile would be the chief handicap in such a venture, but the lack of news of the German 21st Panzer Division is causing anxiety. It turned south, and since then there has been silence. TANK REINFORCEMENTS BRITISH NINTH ARMY NOT WEAKENED. ISTANBUL, July 2. The independent French news agency reported that United States tanks from Basra arrived to reinforce the Eighth Army. „ . x . . It is emphasised that the British have taken no reinforcements from the Ninth Army in Syria and Palestine. HEAVIEST TO DATE SOUTH AFRICAN LOSSES. LONDON, July 2. The 'Johannesburg correspondent of the “Daily Express” states that the South African casualties at Tobruk will be published shortly. It is understood that the total is 15,000, mostly missing, the biggest list South Africa has ever had.