MADE BY ALLIED FORCES IN EGYPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1942, Page 3

MADE BY ALLIED FORCES IN EGYPT

Positions in Central Sector Strengthened ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS DEFEATED DUST STORMS HAMPER AIR OPERATIONS LONDON, July 19. The British forces in Egypt have strengthened their positions in the central sector. In the northern sector they have maintained their positions at the base of the salient. A few miles further south they hold the ridge which they captured on Friday. Reuter’s correspondent states that an attempt by the enemy to counter-attack was broken by British, South African and Australian artillery before it developed. In the central sector Indian and British infantry improved their hold on the rising ground by pushing forward slightly towards the west. Yesterday evening an enemy counter-attack failed. The British troops dealt with the attack without having to call on their tanks. \ In the southern sector British forces were active yesterday on the heels of the enemy, who has withdrawn slightly during the past two or three days. Air activity was restricted yesterday by high yellow dust clouds. Fighter bombers attacked enemy forces on the ground, though for most of the time these were hidden from the air. A Retailed account of the great tank battle of three days ago is still awaited. It is believed that the co-operation between the British tank men and gunners was • particularly effective. One report says that the altillery barrages in the fighting for the ridges exceeded in sheer weight anything previously experienced in the desert.