RAPID DECISION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1942, Page 3

RAPID DECISION

NOT EXPECTED IN WESTERN DESERT BATTLE MAY SWAY GRIMLY. BEFORE ENEMY RESISTANCE CAN BE BROKEN. (British Official Wireless. 1 (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, October 27. The news reaching London of the present Allied attack in Egypt probably is more sparse than during any previous large-scale operation in the Western Desert. Little beyond the brief but encouraging details contained in the latest communique is known. It is widely accepted by the Press and military commentators that at least several days must elapse before anything like a decision can be achieved. “The Times” says: “Experience of such actions shows that such struggles as are now to be expected are apt in the early stages to sway grimly backwards and forwards over the same ground for many days before the resistance of the enemy can be broken and the way cleared for an armoured assault. Rommel today occupies a stronger defence position than any he has held in the North African war and he has had an abundance of time to fortify it to a great depth. Allied infantry successfully traversed the minefield and demolished some other lines of his system and substantial numbers of prisoners have been taken, but the onset of armoured forces, which is the main battle, has barely begun.”