Evening star., 1942-07-16
Danger to Sta|ingrad and Rostov
Grows Hourly as Nazis Advance;
Romme| Loses and Gains in Eqypt
Axis Forces Give
Ground West Of
81 AIumein
By the Associated Press.

bS the hSStCldteu lSoS'
CAIRO, July 16.-Field Mar
shall Erwin Rommels Axis forces
were reported giving ground on
the central front west OF Ell Ala
mein today, but British head
quarters acknowledged the Ger
mans had achieved some gains
in the coastal zone and had par
TALLY succeeded" in re-establish-
ing themselves at Tel Ell Elsa.
In Berlin the German news
agency DNB said some dominat-
ing heights around Ell Alamein
had been captured by Axis des-
ert forces after fierce fighting
yesterday and an Australian bat
talon staff was seized in en-
gagements still progressing.
un Rome the Italian high
command reported violent Brit
ish assaults on the middle of the
Axis Egyptian line, but it said
they were stopped and counter
attacks we're launched immedi-
ately.
(''We have taken more than
1900 prisoners and have de-
troyed a good number of armored
vehicles" communique added)
HEAVY hombers of the United
States Army Air Forces made q
daylight attack on the Axis base
of Bergas:. Libya, yesterday, start
ing large dock fire.
Raj and Allied airmen attacked
both Bengasi and Tobruk, both fal
west of the fighting zone, and
smashed at the Axis armies "in
force" at the front.
Prisoners Taken.
AS the result of an attack launched
before dawn yesterday, British
troops pushed forward in the CEN
trail sector to secure detectives at the
western end of ridge south Of El
Alamein, communique said.
Prisoners were taken, but their
numbers are not known the bull
letin added.
The assault apparently was
launched to relieve pressure on Au-
stralian forces holding recently-won
positions at Tel ell Eisa-the Hill OF
evidently was at least
partly successful, for the COM
munique announced that imperial
troops continued to hold high ground
in that area,
Enemy forces which succeeded In
occupying positions at Tel Ell Elsa
Tuesday, night were heavily bonn
barded all day yesterday by British
artillery and planes and a number
of Axis tanks were knocked out Of
action, the bulletin reported.
Planes Score Hits.
The British said their air squad
rons scored hits on grounded air.
craft, gun positions. motor trucks
and a headquarters in the battle
area.
Enemy bombing increased little
but our intercepting fighters shot
down seven enemy aircraft and dam.
aged Others" the communique said
The Australians who are holding
the northern end of the line occu-
pied Tel Ell Elsa last Saturday after
a two-day 10-mile advance from E.
Alamein.
Marshal Rommel's forces have
been attacking steadily in the coasta.
zone since dusk Tuesday.
The Australians previously had
repulsed daylight assaults Sunday
and Monday.
Minor engagements involving row.
ing patrols were reported on Other
sectors of the 35-mile front.
Auchinleck Keeping Initiative
Front line dispatches made 1
evident that Gen. Sir Claude
Auchinleck, the British commander
in chief, was determined not to let
Marshal Rommel regain the ini-
tiative, which the Axis chieftair
relinquished when his eastward
offensive stalled two weeks ago some
10 miles short OF Alexandria.
Gen. Auchinleck's strategy since
then has been to keep the Axi.
forces of balance with sudden at
tacks calculated to break up prep.
arations for new general offensive
A powerful factor has been the
ability of the Raj, with which
American airmen also are fighting
to maintain mastery of the skies tc
date. Day after day front line dis
patches and communiques have
told of the continued pounding
being given the Axis forces by Allied
fighter bombers, medium bombers
and heavy bombers.
Numerous direct hits were said tc
have been scored on attacking Axis
tanks in the Tel Ell Elsa sector.