The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-29
Nazi Artillery and Tanks Storm, Seize Matruh,
 15O Miles in Egypt LIEUT.. GEN. RITCHTE
 HAS LOST COMMAND British Try Des 9erately Under New Com lander
 to Make Stand
BY WILLIAM B. DICKINSON United Press Stan CorrcspOndent)

BY WILLIAM B. DICKINSON
 United Press Stan CorrcspOndent)
 London, June 29-(UP)- Field Marshal Edwin Rom mel's Axis army has stormed and taken Matruh, anchor of the British line 40 miles in- side Egypt and 160 miles from Alexandria and the British forces are trying des- perately to stop him by a de- fense in depth, Axis and British reports indicated today.
 Axis claims to the capture of Ma truth were accepted here as prob ably true because superior German artillery and tank power slowly were forcing the British eighth army eastward and the British could only hope that as the Axis colnmunica- tions heightened they could estab- fish semblance of equality.
 Hours before the fall of Matruli was claimed. United Press Cairo dis patches had said that If the Axis forces broke through the new eightr army line, still being organized, tne middle eastern command would have to decide whether to try to hold Ma truth. which would be isolated.
 It was admitted here that the Germans had marked tank super iority and that the British command could not risk a head-on clash with Rommel on a firm front.
 Hence, 1t was said in military quarters, periodic British witndraw- als were to be expected as the Ger mans aside from attacking toward the Egyptian coast, edged forward along the inland flank.
 So obvious was the British infer iority, well informed quarters here suggested. that Gen. Sir Claude Auchinleck, the British Middle East ern commander, probably had with drawn from Matruh and left the Axis troops to enter it unopposed
 (It was noted that London dis. patches no longer referred to Lieu tenant General Neil M. Ritchie who had commanded the eighth army. It was reported from South Africa Saturday, apparently on ite, basis of official advcies, that Ritchie had been removed from his com mand.)
 Presumably before withdrawing from place like Matruh. the Brit ish would have destroyed installa- tions of all sorts as they did at To bruk, including the water supply which makes Matruh important.
 Experts here were reconciled to the fall of Matruh when the Ital- fans asserted that Axis forces had cut through the coast IS 1-2 miles east of 1t.
 How far the British would have to experts said, depended first on Rommel's ability to keep pressure heavy despite his lengthen- ed communication lines and second- ly on Auchinleck,s ability to recon- struct a formidable battle force which would enable him to Eisk . pitched battle.
 4ACGC Wdo uO AA0ACAtAOA HEN whether the Axis field marshal hRe sent strong forces down to the Qattara Depression, 90 miles south of Matruh, in an attempt to out flank the British.
 Unless he did, 1t was said, his at- tack was likely to be centralized along the coast.
 (The German controlled Parts radio reported that Rommel was sending a mixed German-Italian column southward and was threat ening Sir Taud, 75 miles southwest of Mateuh, and the Siwa Ooasis, ist miles southwest. Both points ara west of the Qattara Bogs).
 Even if Rommel kept to the coast
 (ContinJed on Page 4)