TheCodeBreakers
observations but no broad view of the situation. And when the new
military ATTACHÉ there began using the M-138 strip cipher, which defied
all Axis attempts at solution, it cut Rommel off from the strategic
intelligence on which he had so long depended.
The loss occurred just as he was crossing the frontier into Egypt and
seemed to have the Pyramids and victory almost within his grasp. The
British 8th Army fell back to its fortified positions at El Alamein, and on
July 2 Auchin-leck jabbed out with the first of a series of counterattacks.
Rommel, deprived of his most valuable source of information, could no
longer take the expeditious measures for defense and offense that he was
previously enabled to. On July 4, he reported that he was going over to
the defensive. Meanwhile, Britain succeeded in reinforcing Malta, and
attacks from there pinched the Axis pipeline. Rommel clamored in vain
for fuel.
annaabi.ee 
