as possible but could not risk being enveloped and destroyed. At Matruh the Eighth Army units were far stronger than the pursuing them but Allied effectiveness was reduced by conflicting objectives. There was little co-ordination between the Allied forces and communication was poor from the corps level on down. Battle Delays in getting units in position and refuelled meant the Axis attack of 26 June did not begin until mid-afternoon. The 21st Panzer Division moved across the short plain between the two escarpments above Matruh, with 90th Light Division on its left flank, while 15th Panzer Division moved across the plain above the second escarpment with the Italian XX Motorized Corps following some ways behind. The 90th Light and 21st Panzer divisions made a path through the thin minefield and brushed aside Gleecol and Leathercol. On the high desert plain the 15th Panzer Division ran into the 22nd Armoured Brigade and its drive forward was checked. At dawn on 27 June, the 90th Light Division resumed its advance and destroyed the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (9th DLI), south of Matruh. As it moved east, the 90th Light Division came under the fire of 50th Infantry Division artillery and was forced to take cover. To the south Rommel advanced with the 21st Panzer Division and under the cover of an artillery duel the 21st Panzer Division made a flanking movement across the front of the 2nd New Zealand Division, to the eastern approach at Minqar Qaim. The division ran into the 2nd New Zealand divisional transport at Minquar Qaim, scattering it. Though the New Zealanders were easily holding against the 21st Panzer Division, their path of retreat had been cut off. At midday 27 June, Auchinleck sent a message to his two corps commanders indicating that if they were threatened with being cut off they were to retire rather than risk encirclement and destruction. Rommel moved north and joined the 90th Light Division. He got them to resume their advance, with the imperative to cut the coast road. After dark, the 90th Light Division reached the coast road and cut it, blocking the retreat of X Corps. In light of 2nd New Zealand's path of retreat being cut off to the east, Gott made his decision to withdraw that night and notified the Eighth Army. In fact it was the that was in a perilous position. The 90th Light was