GAINS BY BRITISH FORCES IN EGYPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 July 1942, Page 3

GAINS BY BRITISH FORCES IN EGYPT

Vantage Points Wrested From Enemy SMALL BUT IMPORTANT ADVANCE WESTWARD VIGOROUS & SUSTAINED ALLIED AIR ATTACKS LONDON, July 16, The British position in Egypt has been improved, south of El Alamein. After 24 hours of thrust and counter-thrust, the Eighth Army has made a small but important advance westward. General Auchinleck yesterday morning succeeded in his plan, which was to reach the western end of a ridge 10 miles inland from the sea. It is a useful vantage point overlooking the coastal plain. The enemy launched a small, unsuccessful counter-attack and later came on again in considerable strength. It was the first tank for tank clash in the battle of El Alamein. The British forces held most of the positions gained on the ridge. The enemy regained only, a small foothold on the western end. Further north the enemy has not gained much except the battered railway station of Tel el Isa, which is, however, overlooked by a higher ground retained in British hands. Bombers are keeping up their attacks on Tobruk and Benghazi.