ROMMEL'S ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1942, Page 4

ROMMEL'S ATTACK

ADVANCE OF EIGHT MILES

AXIS FORCES

ESTIMATED STRENGTH IN NORTH AFRICA TWELVE DIVISIONS FOUR OF THEM ARMOURED. TWO-THIRDS OF TOTAL ITALIANS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This. Day, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, September 1. The Axis forces in North Africa are now estimated at twelve divisions, including two German and two Italian armoured divisions and two German and six Italian infantry divisions. Whether all these are at full strength is not known. Recent arrivals are the German 104th and the Italian Pistoia divisions.

On Southern Sector of Egyptian Front HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES VIGOROUS ACTION BY ALLIED AIRCRAFT :By Telegraph.—-Press Association. —Copyright.) ' ' (Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. Rommel has advanced eight miles in his new push in the southern sector of the El Alamein front, says Reuter’s Cairo correspondent. The advance was made through Allied minefields. The Axis attempt to punch through the centre of the El Alamein line has been firmly held and the situation there is described as being fully under control. Heavy fighting continues in the southern sector. The Germans are using all types of equipment, including heavy tanks and divte-bombers. Another Cairo message states that, by the light of the waning moon, two strong Axis columns thrust towards General Montgomery’s fluid southern sector at one o’clock yesterday morning. Allied artillery and air forces vigorously attacked. The German tanks were accompanied by big formations of motor transport as they pushed forward along dry river beds. Rommel’s Nineteenth Light Infantry Division was heavily shelled as it became entangled in the minefield. It was then engaged by our infantry. Allied tank forces did. not make contact with the enemy throughout yesterday. The Axis forces have been slightly withdrawn from the point they reached a little to the north-east of El Himeiamat, which is a hill position around which the main fighting has proceeded all day. This is the farthest point 1 of the Axis advance. The British United Press correspondent, with the EighthArmy, says Rommel’s advance was characterised by the extreme caution of the German tanks, mostly Mark 3, which are not attacking in a body but are widely spread out in clusters. Rommel transferred supplies, ammunition, fuel and other stores on Tuesday and Wednesday from north to south. The Allied air forces observed the movement and severely pasted the transport. Dust storms aided the early stages of Rommel’s attack, particularly because they interfered with the refuelling of our planes. After visibility had improved in the battle area yesterday unusually heavy concentrations of Stukas appeared. Allied fighters dispersed them and. forced them to Jettison their bombs, sometimes over their own lines. Despite yesterday’s intensive air battles, the R.A.F. has net lost a single fighter pilot. The newest United States medium bombers in the Middle East, the Mitchell 825 type, have gone into battle with all-American crews, and already have inflicted heavy damage on the enemy. The Mitchell E 25 is the fastest aircraft of its kind in Egypt.