HILL POSITIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1943, Page 4

HILL POSITIONS

TAKEN BY THE FRENCH IN SOUTHERN TUNISIA. PROGRESS TOWARDS COASTAL AREA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 14. French forces attacked north-west of Kairouan (in Southern Tunisia), occupied two strategically important mountains and also cleared the enemy out of a valley in the Djebel Boudabous, which they had earlier surrounded. In capturing the hills, the French inflicted heavy- casualties and took prisoners and booty. The French also captured high ground at Djebel Bonhadja, a few miles northwards of Djebel Boudabous, where also they inflicted casualties and took prisoners and booty. The Lafayette Squadron, flying Warhawks, which were presented to them on January 9, supported the French ground forces.* The British United Press Algiers correspondent says French infantry units have gained control of ten miles of forested heights, running from Karachoun to Kaironan. The French are busy wiping out pockets of resistance in the valleys and passes. The new French line in this area now runs through the Djebel Boudabous at a height of 2,000 feet. French guns dominate the road running south-east-wards from Karachoun to Kairouan and French infantry are working their way down the eastern slopes of the mountains to the Mediterranean, but have much territory to gain before they reach the coastal area. Kairouan is the first French objective. They are approaching it from the north-west. Neither the British nor American air forces in North Tunisia have displayed much activity in the past 36 hours. Bad weather has hampered Allied harassing operations. ' FEZZAN CAMPAIGN PROGRESS OF LECLERC’S COLUMN. (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, January 14. • Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says contact has now been made between General Giraud’s headquarters and General Leclerc’s Fighting French column, ensuring future co-operation. General Leclerc has also made contact with the native camel corps advancing along the Tunisian-Libyan frontier sixty miles daily. General Leclerc, in a message to General de Gaulle, says: “The Fighting French in Fezzan thus far have taken over 700 prisoners, captured 40 guns, 18 tanks, a large number of lorries and considerable stocks of arms and ammunition.” •