TUNISIAN BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 99, 21 January 1943, Page 5

TUNISIAN BATTLE

Gain Made Against French

(British Official Wifeless.) RUGBY, January 10.

Allied headquarters in North Africa report: ••Infantry and armoured engagements took place in the Bou Arada-Gaubellat area, south of Mejez el Bab. The enemy gained some ground to the south-west of Font du Fahs. Aircraft on both sides were active over the fighting area.” Castel Benito, the enemy aerodrome near Tripoli, was among the targets bombed. A French communique from North Africa, as broadcast by Morocco radio, says: “Strong enejny infantry and tank forces launched an attack on our positions west and south-west of Font du Falls. They were repulsed by our forces, which were supported by Allied aircraft. "The enemy failed to break our line, lost numerous tanks, and suffered heavy casualties. The battle is still in progress.

“Our troops fighting in the eastern Sahara continue to progress into the interior of Tripolitania.” A correspondent with the First Army states that the enemy has made three separate attacks on the Allied positions south of Mejcz el Bab. Two of these attacks were made on positions held, by British troops in the area between, Goubellut and Bou Arada, and resulted in the enemy being driven buck and suffering losses in tanks and men. The first was made on high ground cast of the road running from Goubellat to Bou Arada by two enemy companies, supported by two more. The enemy made some ground, lint British infantry, supported by tanks, set up a heavy counterattack which recovered all the ground lost, and wiped out two companies of enemy infantry. While the engagement was in progress a number of enemy tanks approached Bou Arada from the east. They were engaged by artillery, and a number were destroyed, forcing the enemy to withdraw. British infantrv swept the area later in search of the enemy units, which appeared to have retired from the area. Other enemy tanks operating between Bou Arada and Pont <hi Bahs were shelled by artillery, All these operations took place in the morning, and were concluded in three hours.