GOOD HEADWAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 January 1943, Page 4

GOOD HEADWAY

THE EIGHTH ARMY DRIVE «3 70 MILES TRAVERSED IN THREE DAYS FIGHTING IN ALL SECTORS. BUT NO MAJOR ENGAGEMENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, Noon.) RUGBY, January 18. The Eighth Army moved up another 30 miles yesterday, an advance of 70 miles in three days, states a correspondent with the forces. Fighting went on in all sectors, including the coastal sector, with heavier fighting in the rougher going in the centre. Yesterday’s advance was marked by intermittent fighting, although it never developed into major engagements, nor tank battles. The greatest opposition came from shelling, machine-gunning and the exploding of land mines, which had to be cleared up after the enemy had abandoned the strongly-defended Wadi Soffegin. Here contact occurred, with slight casualties, and a number of prisoners were taken. By night the enemy was withdrawing on a front of 60 to 70 miles in a north-west direction, pursued by the British. The front line now roughly extends from the coast south of Tauorga, Birdufan and Biriwid, where the going is extremely rough. CEASELESS u ATTACKS BY ALLIED AIR FORCES. MADE POSSIBLE BY GROUND ORGANISATION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) RUGBY, January 18. Fighter-bombers of the Allied air forces had a great day over the battle area yesterday, when they bombed and machine-gunned enemy transport and other targets from first light till dark, states a Cairo message. It was the biggest day for fighter-bombers since the battle of El Alamein. Excellent targets, made by enemy transport hastening west, were found by our aircraft all day long, and they maintained ceaseless attacks, with 1 hardly any opposition. This intense fighter-bomber action suggests that the enemy columns withdrawing westwards are again being shepherded into those tight concentrations which made such a fine target for large-scale bomber attacks in the initial drive from El Alemain. The nature of the country, which is becoming more hilly, also tends to compel the enemy to keep to tracks and defiles and thus to concentrate. A new landing ground less than 30 milgs from the front line enabled the Desert air forces to move forward yesterday and to keep the rapidly retreating enemy within range. Once again complete fighter-bomber formations moved by air with clocklike precision, and about an hour or so after they had landed, fighter-bombers were in the air and pursuing enemy transport moving west. In the course of the day’s operations, fighter-bomber squadrons which had set off to attack enemy columns between Misurata and Zlite reconnoitred a landing ground which had been abandoned by the Axis, but the R.A.F. had no need of this, for by swift organisation and enterprise they were already provided with a new landing ground almost under the enemy’s nose, so that the fighter-bombers could use it on their return. By midday yesterday, the enemy had evacuated Bir Dufan, and fighterbombers were concentrating on enemy transport moving west and northwest of Dufan. Grounded aircraft, caught unawares, were shot up and destroyed. Tank concentrations were discovered north-west of Bir Dufan and were bombed and machinegunned. The fighter-bomber attack was switched to concentrations of enemy vehicles in the Beni Ulid area, where excellent targets were found. Determined fighter-bomber attacks were pressed home and much damage was done among vehicles and many casualties were inflicted on personnel. In this day of intensive fighterbomber attacks, only one of our aircraft was lost. These bold tactics on the part of the Allied ground organisation resulted in the frustration of the enemy’s attempt? to render his aerodromes unserviceable after his departure, and made possible a non-stop air offensive. It also assured full air protection for our forward troops. Strategically, yesterday’s advance was extremely important. For one thing Castel Benito, one of the enemy’s main air bases in Tripolitania, is now within reach of R.A.F. fighter-bombers. IMPROVING MARGIN I IN AMERICAN AIR SERVICES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, Noon.) RUGBY, January 18. While United States air successes in the North African campaign have been on the basis of exactly two to one since the beginning of the campaign (194 enemy aircraft having been destroyed for the loss of 97), in the past week 46 enemy planes were destroyed for the loss of only 16 American aircraft.