LAUNCHED BY EIGHTH ARMY IN EGYPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1942, Page 3

LAUNCHED BY EIGHTH ARMY IN EGYPT

Heavy Fighting, With Tanks in Action on Both Sides PROGRESS REPORTED AT SEVERAL POINTS ALLIED AIR ONSLAUGHT ON ENEMY SHIPPING IN CRETE LONDON, July 22. Agency messages coming in from Egypt during the past two hours report that the Eighth Army has launched a new attack. Heavy fighting took place throughout the day, with tanks in action on both sides. A correspondent states that the battle was rejoined in the central sector on a limited front. . , . _ ... , The attack started in the centre last night and British forces at the north and south ends of the front joined in this morning. It is too early yet to give definite results, but it is known that in the northern sector the troops now occupy the whole of the ridge. In the central sector some progress has been made and in the south United Kingdom troops have also made headway. The enemy made counter-attacks on all fronts and fierce fighting continues. The British air forces put up a protective umbrella. Although enemy planes were out in slightly larger numbers, their activity was still on a small scale. Enemy shipping in Crete was attacked by a force of heavy Allied bombers. Direct hits were scored on two medium-sized merchant ships and on other ships. The Duke of Gloucester has visited British troops in the El Alamein area. He decorated two New Zealand soldiers.