ENEMY SURPRISED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 July 1942, Page 3

ENEMY SURPRISED

ROMMEL OBVIOUSLY PERTURBED AT RESULT OF ALLIED HAMMER-BLOWS. ACHIEVEMENTS OF BRITISH TANKS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 24. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent in a dispatch from Ruweisat said yesterday: “The offensive surprised the enemy, judging from the prisoners’ stories. Rommel is obviously perturbed at the result of our hammer-blows in the central sector, coupled with the Australians’ refusal to be dislodged from the salient they pushed into his coastal flank. He attempted repeatedly and bitterly to regain the lost ground. We lost some armour penetrating enemy minefields and anti-tank defences to the west of Ruweisat, but heavily damaged German and Italian tank formations.” The new battle for Egypt was still raging yesterday afternoon, the Germans rushing up every gun they could spare to meet the British threat in the central sector, where the heaviest fighting is now concentrated. The artillery barrage from both sides steadily increased after midday. Reports from the south indicate that German tanks and motorised infantry are trying to get to grips with the Allies, who further advanced along the Quattara Depression. The Germans are getting bogged in the fine sand, which makes the going extremely difficult for heavier vehicles. Fighting in the northern sector died down yesterday as the battle veered to the south from Tel el Isa. The British United Press correspondent, cabling from Ruweisat, says an English tank captain told how our tanks pentrated beyond Ruweisat. Five of our tanks were knocked out by mines and anti-tank guns, but four reached their objective and engaged and shot up six German tanks. The Berlin radio, quoting German military quarters, said that the British offensive had failed in the El Alamein area, but General Auchinleck was able to claim some progress, because Rommel had decided to shorten his supply route. The British rushed up all available artillery, which were in action all day and all night without interruption. They fired 3600 shells within a few hours on one small part of the front. It is reported from Cairo that two British submarines sank three Axis supply ships. AIR OPERATIONS CAIRO OFFICIAL REPORT. '(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY, July 24. A Cairo communique states: “Our troops yesterday consolidated positions gained in the previous day s fighting. In the northern and central sectors, our artillery and armoured car patrols harrassed the enemy. In the southern sector there is nothing to report. “Our light bombers carried out a series of attacks on targets in the central sector and fighter-bombers . also attacked gun positions and vehicles. Our fighters intercepted a formation of escorted Stukas, shooting down four and one Messerschmitt. They also shot down a reconnaissance bomber. “In minor air activity over Malta, our fighters shot down two Axis aircraft. “During these operations five of our aircraft were lost. At least one pilot is safe.”