OF RETREATING AFRIKA KORPS IN TRIPOLITANIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 January 1943, Page 3

OF RETREATING AFRIKA KORPS IN TRIPOLITANIA

Eighth Army Making Good Headway AIR ATTACKS MAINTAINED IN FULL VIGOUR ENEMY TRYING TO WIDEN CORRIDOR IN SOUTHERN TUNISIA LONDON, January 20. The British Eighth Army, heading for Tripoli, was last night closing in on Homs, less than 70 miles- from Tripoli. Troops on the left flank were in contact with the enemy round Tarhuna, 40 miles south-east of the capital. The British troops are reported to have pressed forward since then, with the air force always keeping the enemy within range and hitting him hard all the way. Fighting French forces from the Chad have gained more ground. . Land fighting on a full scale is now taking place in Tnpolitanian towns and villages and thousands of Italian settlers are seeing the Afrika Korps passing them by in full retreat. On Monday night United States medium bombers heavily raided Castel Benito, the main Axis airport near Tripoli. Yesterday American Liberator bombers again raided Tripoli and Sousse. The Germans in Tunisia are trying to» widen the corridor which Rommel’s remnants must pass to link up with the Axis forces in Tunisia. Enemy tanks with strong air support, advanced several miles south-west of Pont du Fahs, but losses 'were inflicted out of all proportion to the ground gained. British troops are now fighting for high ground dominating a road south-west of Pont du Fahs, along which the Germans have moved. ; Allied planes are keeping up their attacks on the enemy s communications and supply bases. Industrial targets and railway yards south of Tunis have been attacked and direct hits scored on a main road junction.