BROKE MARETH LINE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21113, 5 June 1943, Page 4

BROKE MARETH LINE

FIGHIIING ;WO CRITICAL DAYS . (PA) WELLINGTON. June 5. A brief description of the lighting on March 25 and 2(i, the period durino- which Lieutenant Ngarimu won the Victoria Cross lias been supplied hv a rut v headquarters. At this time the Eighth Army was confronting the German positions on the Marc-til Line and was extending thinking elements to the left to feel for a passage round the general position. ,On March .25; our fprward troops occupied positions about four miles east, of the village of Mai;et)i and an Indian division progressed tOii, wards Medinine. The advance of this division was continued ou March 20 and forward troops reached 10 miles west of Toujane. During the afternoon of May 2G an attack was launched by' the Second New Zealand Division, supported -by leaks, in the south-west of El Hamma. This attack succeeded in creating a gap through which, on the following night, additional armoured forces were passed. The following morning our troops reached El Hamma. 'Moppingup operations against the enemy positions continued in the hills to the south-west. This threat to the German Rank and rear forced the enemy 1u abandon the Mareth Line. B.v .March 28, the German forces were in full retreat, our armoured forces occupied El Hamma and the Second New Zealand Division was pushing towards Gabes.