ARTILLERY DUEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1942, Page 3

ARTILLERY DUEL

FEAT BY MAORIS

DEVELOPED ON HUGE SCALE ROMMEL STILL FORMIDABLE. BUT HAS TAKEN DESPERATE RISKS. LONDON, July 7. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says that almost ceaselessly in the last 48 hours a huge , artillery duel has proceeded along the El Alamein line. The enemy has brought up heavy guns, including some 210 mm., which are the heaviest yet used in North Africa. A British officer said the British lines are “still with the guns.” A gunner who fought in Greece and France said he had never fired so many shells. The enemy is using a new type of combined wheeled and long-range anti-infantry machine-gun resembling the Vickers but much more mobile. Informed opinion in Cairo is more hopeful than it would have been believed possible five days ago, but the “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent with the Eighth Army emphasises that the battle may still be lost. He adds: “Rommel was never more formidable than when on the verge of aparent failure. Rommel staked high in throwing his entire armour and most of His infantry in the advance on El Alamein, and he has also taken a desperate risk in the air. “In his desire to operate from the most advanced airfields at the earliest possible moment, he has taken the Axis air force to forward bases before bringing up the necessary anti-aircraft guns. This risk will succeed only in the event of the R.A.F. suffering such losses that it is unable to take advantage of the i opportunities thus presented to it, and this has never been the case. The R.A.F. has shown an offensive spirit since the opening of the El Alamein battle and seized opportunities in both hands, leading to a marked diminution in the dive-bombing and also the general Axis air effort.” The Rome radio stated: "The Quat- *' tara Depression is impassable. It is : worth 20 divisions to Auchinleck. The I Axis supply lines have become perilous, whereas Auchinleck is easily reinforced.”

CONFIDENCE REVIVES IN EGYPTIAN CAPITAL. CAIRO, July 6. The Imperial Army’s stand has restored confidence, and prices of cars and clothing, which slumped 75 per cent, after the invasion of Egypt, have again risen. Anxious whispering groups no longer discuss plans for travelling, garages have ceased to hoard petrol, and trains are no longer crowded.

CAPTURE OF ENEMY STRONGPOINT. MANY GERMANS BAYONETED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 7. The Maoris on Sunday night captured the strongpoint which was mentioned in General Auchinleck’s communique after continual British, New Zealand and South African attacks at carefully selected points, which undermined the enemy’s grip. The Germans throughout the day concentrated against the New Zealanders, with the object of annihilating them. An officer stated: “By dark a greatly superior force had surrounded the Maori Battalion, and we decided the only thing to do was to attack. The Maoris rushed forward in a bayonet charge, and the startled Germans jumped from their lorries and huddled together, and many were bayoneted or killed by grenades. “Nothing stopped the New Zealanders, and when they regrouped scores of lorries had been wrecked, 10 tanks and many armoured vehicles were out of action, and many prisoners had been taken.”

All correspondents in Egypt pay tribute to the courage and fighting qualities of the New Zealanders. The Associated Press of America particularly refers to the Maori bayonet attacks, and says that after stiff fighting all day the Maoris on Sunday night insisted on sallying out in the light of the waning

moon, armed only with bayonets and grenades. All night the Maoris raided the entrenched enemy forward troops and inflicted extremely heavy casualties.