HIGHER COUNTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 January 1943, Page 3

HIGHER COUNTRY

ENTERED BY EIGHTH ARMY ROMMEL SPEEDING UP HIS RETREAT. FIGHTING IN TUNISIA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, January 20. The Eighth Army encountered little opposition yesterday, though the country is becoming more difcult as the top of the range is approached, an agency correspondent reports. Rommel appears to be speeding up his withdrawal and there were no tank clashes yesterday. The number of mines the enemy is leaving is also reported to be smaller than in the past. In Tunisia the enemy is reported to be increasing his pressure against the French position south-west of Pont du Fahs. Employing tanks, supported by aircraft, he yesterday succeeded in penetrating seven miles on the road from Pont du Fahs. The French are putting up a fierce resistance. The objective of the German attack, the correspondent states, would be to drive the Allies from all the high ground in this area in order to prevent any Allied attack on the important ports of Sousse and Sfax, or to make absolutely certain that the corridor to Northern Tunisia, through which Rommel’s army may pass, is kept unthreatened. Hurricane bombers and Spitfires effectively co-operated with ground troops in attacking the enemy forces attacking the French and on one part of the road Hurricanes bombed and Spitfires shot up a column of 20 vehicles and 400 troops.