Evening star., 1942-09-04
Allies in Egypt
Take Initiative
From RoinmeI
Relieve Axis Pressure
On Southern End of
El Alumein Line
By the Associated Press,


action by the United States Army
Air Forces, the RAF and hard
hitting British mechanical units
appeared today to have wrested
the initiative momentarily from
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel,
relieving Axis pressure on the
southern end Of the Ell Alamein
line.
Under steady pounding from the
air and on the land, British COM
munique announced, powerful enemy
armored forces concentrated In the
Ruweisat- Himeimat sector in ap-
parent preparation for an attempt
to turn the British left flank, with
drew slightly to the westward yes
terday.
The bulletin said the aerial bonn
bardment to which the enemy was
subjected yesterday had exceeded
that of the previous day-which
smashed all records for the North
African campaign.
Six Axis Planes Downed,
Despite the scope of the air op-
erations, British headquarters re-
ported that all the Allied bombers
had returned safely to their bases.
Six Axis planes were shot down
during the day.
There was comparatively little
enemy air activity over the battle
front, not German dive bomber
appearing over the lines. Observers
recalled that dispatches from the
front have told of heavy German
dive bomber losses in the past Few
days.
Two Messerschmitts, a 100 and a
Ito. were destroyed, by American
myers and United States Air Force
headquarters said:
In the course of intensive opera =
tlons United States medium bombers
With ffghter escorts from the Raj
and United States battle groups at
tackled enemy motor transport in
the battle area. Several hits and
near misses were observed. Several
vehicles were destroyed.
Medium bomber planes also at
tackled enemy airfields and hits were
seen In the target area. Fires were
started in the vicinity of aircraft
parked on the airfields.
Warn Against Over Optimism. g
While the Axis withdrawal In the
Ruweist- Himeimat sector appeared
to have relieved the situation tenn
porarily, military observers warned
against too much optimism, point
ing out that the battle still is in it.
preliminary phases and that both
sides are merely jockeying for posi-.
ton.
Marshal Rommel, they said, ha.
not yet suffered crippling losses tt
his armored strength and there is NJ
indication that he is trying to avoie
a showdown.
On the other hand, these source.
said. the Axis ehieftain has brought
up to the battle line vast supple.
for an offensive-including suff1cien
gasoline to feed his mechanical
forces for 10 days of hard fighting
Dumps Under Hail of Bombs.
The RAF, aided by the Unitee
States Army Air Forces, kept thes,
supply DUMPS under an almost con.
tinual hail of bombs.
Dispatches from the front las
night told of no large scale actor
by the opposing forces, but British
armored units harassed advanced
Axis elements, giving The enemy NJ
chance to get set for the punch h,
evidently is trying to deliver.
The main body Of Ii. Gen. B. I
Montgomery's 8tn Army, meanwhile
remained poised, ready to hit bacl
should Marshal Rommel make +,
mistake.
In Cairo the RAF issued a state
ment declaring the Axis had los
1882 planes in combat over tn
desert since the start of the war an,
putting losses of the United Nation
at 1903 planes.
Thus far this yasr, the statemen
said, Axis losses total 1,417 plane
and British losses Lila.