Evening star., 1942-07-17
Indecisive Battle
Roges in Egypt on
EI AIumein Line
Es the Associated Press.


CAIRO, July 17-British troops,
engaged in violent and still in
decisive tank battle since yester-
day in the center of the Ell Ala
mein desert line, were reported
today to have brought up Ameri-
can-made General Lee tanks to
give additional power to their de-
tense.
The General Lee, an improved
version OF the General Grant,
mounts 75-millimeter guns in the
turret instead of at the side and has
streamlined armor. The General
Grants previously had proved a
mainstay of British armored forces
in the desert.
The British were making stubborn
efforts to hold their newly won po-
sitions in the center of the line.
New Zealand infantry and armor
scored number of successes there
against attacking German tanks.
In the northern sector, too, the
British imperials were having sue
cess. After a ding dong all-day
fight yesterday they reoccupied
their original positions on the lower
ridge of Tel Ell Elsa. They already
had held the higher ground.
Crisis Appears Near.
Sharp fighting also was reported
at the southern end of the line,
where the enemy was said to have
withdrawn slightly, and in the
coastal sector to the north.
The communique gave no hint
as to how the battle in the center
was going, but said a number of
enemy tanks had been knocked out.
Details OF our losses are not yet
known" the bulletin added.
Other dispatches from the front
indicated that much of the armored
strength of both sides was engaged
in the struggle and it appeared that
crisis in the battle for Egypt was
near.
British headquarters said the Raj
was strongly supporting the imperial
ground forces and that bombers.
fighter -bombers and fighters we're
continuing to hammer at the enemy
around the clock.
Direct hits were reported on Axis
vehicles, tank workshops, gun po-
sitions and concentrations Of motor
transport.
Throughout the hours Of day.
light our fighters maintained con-
tinuous patrol over the battle area
and shot down at least four enemy
aircraft" the communique said.
From these extensive operations
six Of our aircraft are missing"
The immediate objective of the
attacks against the British center
was position on Ruweieat Ridge,
which runs east and west for about
10 miles south Of the coast.
Rommel Stalking Everything.
Observers said the position would
have to be erased before the Axis
forces could make any advance
elsewhere.
From the scale of the action, OBJ
servers here believed that Field Mar
shall Erwin Rommel, whose Ger
manhattan forces have been stalled
before Ell Alamien since June 30,
might be stalking everything on a
new all-out attempt to smash the
British defenders and push on to
Alexandria, rs or 80 miles away.
While the heaviest fighting was
reported in the central sector, q see
/ saw battle also was Surging around
Tel Ell Elsa chill of jesus on the
coast.
Military advices received in Cairo
last night said communicating
Australian troops had recaptured
the Tel Ell Elsa ridge yesterday only
to be driven out again by enemy in
fantry supported by tanks
Heavy artillery duels were report
ed along the entire front, and aerial
activity was growing in intensity
with the Germans calling on plane
reserves, which they apparently had
been saving for a critical moment
Repulsed in Counterattacks.
The battle in the central sector
was joined Wednesday when the
British pushed forward about 7 miles
and occupied ridge approximately
IL miles southwest of Ell Alamein
presumably with the intention OF
relieving pressure on Australian
forces in the coastal salient.
Repulsed in a series of counter
attacks on the British positions, the
enemy began throwing heavier
armor into the struggle late yester-
day and by nightfall the battle had
swelled to such proportions that its
outcome threatened to prove a de-
cisive factor in the campaign.
Marshal Rommels chances of sue
cess appeared to hinge on the size
of the reinforcements he has re.
ceived during the comparative lul
(See EGYPT, Page A-6)