MASSED IN NORTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1943, Page 3

MASSED IN NORTH

GERMANS IN TUNISIA SOME ITALIANS SENT SOUTH. BAD WEATHER IMPEDING OPERATIONS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) LONDON, February 12. Fighting in North Africa is still being hampered by bad weather. In Tunisia there is rain and snow. A correspondent at Allied Headquarters states that the biggest German concentrations are now in the northern sector. Some of the best German troops are there now and they greatly outnumber the Italians, many of whom have been sent to positions further south. This is taken as a sign that the Germans are determined to keep Bizerta and Tunis open until the last, battle has been decided. Both sides are still jockeying for positions. RECOGNISED COMMAND GENERAL EISENHOWER PLEASED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 11. In a statement at Algiers expressing his intense satisfaction With the new “setup” in North Africa, General Eisenhower said General Montgomery would remain leader of the Eighth Army in the field. General Alexander, as deputy commander-in-chief ' would have headquarters near the front line. General Eisenhower indicated that he would remain at Allied headquarters. Relations between hirriself and General Alexander would be similar to those previously between General Alexander and General Montgomery, except that General Alexander would have two armies under his control, as the First and Eighth Armies are British. Commenting on the new appointments to his command, General Eisenhower said: “Of course, I am extremely satisfied.” There was only one battle line in Tunisia, he said, and they were fighting it together.. His i staff now contained some of the brightest "stars among the British Empire's field commanders. i BLAZE OF ACTION IN SOUTHERN TUNISIA. SWIFT THRUST BY EIGHTH ARMY. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 12. The Eighth Army’s < forces in Southern Tunisia have compelled the enemy to use tanks, artillery and infantry in the biggest action since El Algheila. The action is developing into a struggle for the mud tracks which cover the marshy frontier area. These tracks lead north-west to the important centre of Ben Gardane, which guards the way to the Mareth Line and Gabes. Rommel was holding troops just across the frontier, with strongpoints and guns of large calibre,' but the British move, so soon after heavy rain, apparently took him by surprise. BLOW STRUCK IN NORTH. A British sweep against the Italian line in the Mateur_sector ended with great success, says Reuter’s correspondent with the First Army. Our troops killed a considerable number of Italians and returned with Italian and German prisoners and valuable information. They lost a mere handful ■of killed and wounded. It is considered that the sweep anticipated and effectively prevented enemy action thought to be imminent in this area. AXIS SEAPLANE DESTROYED AT MOORINGS. ON COAST OF SICILY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, February 12. A Middle East communique states: “Yesterday there was nothing to report on land except patrol activity. Severe storms hampered air operations by day and night. An enemy seaplane anchored off the south coast of Sicily was destroyed by fighters. All our aircraft returned." ROMMEL WOUNDED SAID TO BE IN HOSPITAL IN TUNIS. (Received This Day 11.10 a.m.) NEW YORK. February 12. The “New York Sun” correspondent, Mr Gault MacGowan, in a despatch from the Tunisian front, says Rommel Was wounded in an air raid on Gabes and is now in hospital in Tunis. AXIS FORCES DISPOSITION IN TUNISIA. MORE ABOUT THE RAID ON MATEUR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 12. Reuter’s correspondent says the British and French commandos who attacked the Axis forces around Mateur marched throughout the night through thick mud. They were on the move for 48 hours without sleep. During that time they advanced eight miles, overran the German position, threw the Italians from the defences, rounded up i hostile Arabs, destroyed their villages and drove off cattle. Five Axis forces are holding Tunisia, a Reuter correspondent states. The first, and largest, which is believed to comprise one-third of Ihe whole Axis force, is situated in the north. The proportion of Germans to Italians in this sector is roughly four to one. The ratio drons as the line goes further south. The second force is centres around Pont du Fahs, where there has been little recent activity and where the Axis forces have concentrated on planting land-mines. The third force; highly mobile and with powerful striking potentialities, occupies the area between Sfax and Faid Pass. The Axis forces at Faid have a considerable amount of well-concealed artillery still occupying high ground on either side of the pass. The fourth force is smaller than the others. Composed equally of Italians and Germans, it is situated in the Gabes area. It is sufficiently strong to protect the German communications from the north to the Mareth Line and is a continual threat to Gafsa and the Allied right flank. The fifth force is concentrated on the Mareth Line.’ Here the proportion of Italians to Germans is three to one, in the apparent belief that the Italians will fight better in boxed positions than they have done thus far. The Axis forces in the northern area at present appear to be on the defensive, and large- scale movement in this area is almost impossible because of mud and rains.