ATTACKS REPELLED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1943, Page 3

ATTACKS REPELLED

BY BRITISH FORCES IN TUNISIA NUMBER OF ENEMY TANKS REPULSED. SOME AXIS PENETRATION FURTHER SOUTH. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 19. An Allied Force Headquarters North Africa communique states: “Infantry and armoured engagements took place in the area of Bouarada-Goubellat, south of Mgdjez el Bab. The enemy gained some ground south-west from Pont du Fahs. Aircraft on both sides were active over the fighting area. Spitfires destroyed three enemy fighters. Hurricane bombers attacked targets near Pont du Fahs. Bisleys bombed road and rail communications beind the enemy lines during Sunday night. Yesterday Bl7s (Flying Fortresses) bombed the ajrfield at Castel Benito. Many hits were observed on the target. Our formation was attacked by enemy fighters, three of which were destroyed. “Five of our aircraft are missing, but one pilot is safe.” Referring to the land operations, a correspondent with the First Army states that-the enemy made three separate attacks on the Allied positions south of Medjez el Bab. Two of these attacks, made on positions held by British troops, in the area between Goubellat and Bouarada, resulted in the enemy being driven back and suffering losses |of tanks and men. The first was made on high ground, east of the road run-

ning from Goubellat to Bouarada, by two enemy companies supported by two more. The enemy made some ground, but British infantry, supported by tanks, set up a heavy counterattack, in which they 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 Bouarada from the east. They were engaged by artillery and a number were destroyed, forcing the enemy to withdraw. The British infantry swept the area later in a search for enemy units, which appeared to have retired. Other enemy tanks, operating Between Bouarada and Pont du Fahs, were shelled by artillery. All these operations took place in the morning, and were concluded in three hours.

In an attack on French positions south-west of Pont du Fahs, the enemy succeeded in making penetrations with a few tanks, but there is no further news of this action.