AXIS THRUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 February 1943, Page 3

AXIS THRUST

IN SOUTHERN TUNISIA AMERICANS PUSHED BACK FROM FAID PASS. CONTINUED HEAVY FIGHTING. LONDON, February 15. The Gormans in Tunisia, launched a strong attack on American-held positions at the southern end of the 200mile long line and the Americans had to fall back. Correspondents say the enemy attacked at dawn, yesterday with strong forces of tanks, including, it is believed, some of Rommel’s which got away from Libya. Squadrons of German dive-bombers roared ahead to blast a way through. One panzer spearhead pushed through the Faid Pass, driving back the Americans covering the western end. Another spearhead thrust north-westward, through hilly country ;about 40 miles to the south. : Both German spearheads had gained ■about 18 miles before rfightfall yesterday. The German drives seem to be ■aimed at a place 30 miles west of 'Faid.

American bombers and fighters swept the battle area from dawn to dusk, attacking enemy columns and communications.

■ The latest official news from the jbattlefront said that, heavy fighting is continuing. An Allied North Africa communique reports: “The enemy launched an attack by tanks, infantry and artillery, supported by dive-bombers, in the area west of Faid, and heavy fighting is continuing. Our fighters actively supported our, troops throughout the day, attacking enemy vehicles and other ground targets. Light bombers attacked objectives at Maknassy and Sened, also vehicles and tanks. Our fighters broke up a formation of fighter-bomb-ers and forced the enemy to jettison their bombs. One enemy fighter was destroyed, and two of our aircraft are missing.” In south-eastern Tunisia, the British Eighth Army is pushing westward along the coast road. Weekend targets for Middle East aircraft included the big enemy airfield at Heraklion, in Crete, and Axis communications in Sicily and Southern Italy. THE VITAL CORRIDOR. 'rtie Tunisian correspondent of the “New York Times” says that Hitler cannot afford to lose one battle in Tunisia. “The corridor which Rommel holds is so narrow that the loss of one battle would split the German forces,” he says. “In spite of the defeats in Russia Hitler is still pushing infantry from Europe into Tunisia by plane and ship, and it is obvious that the North African campaign is becoming a showdown rather than a sideshow preparatory to an invasion of Europe.

“Though the Allied air forces are able to strike at the Axis bases harder than the enemy can hit ours, the Germans are still maintaining local air superiority, somehow compensating for their lack of numbers by quality. On the other hand, the illusion of superiority on the part of the German tanks was definitely shattered when the excellent British artillery easily knocked several of Rommel’s giant tanks. “It is estimated that the Germans have 90,000 troops in the north and 75,000 in southern Tunisia, and also 450 planes, most of which are fighters. WESTWARD PROGRESS MADE BY EIGHTH ARMY. (British Official Wireless.) '(Received This. Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, February 15. ‘ “Our troops made further progress westwards in the coastal sector, otherwise there is nothing to report except patrol activity,” says a Middle East communique. “Air activity in Tunisia and Tripolitania was on a small scale. Aerodromes in Crete and targets in South Italy and Sicily were attacked on Saturday night. A small formation of enemy bombers was intercepted by our night fighters near Benghazi. One enemy plane was shot down. We lost no planes.” APPALLING WEATHER IN TUNISIAN BORDER AREA. BUT GERMANS HEAVILY PRESSED & WORRIED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, February 15. The Eighth Army, which is harassing Rommel’s forces in the area behind the Tunisian border, has just endured three days of appalling weather, reports an agency correspondent, but the troops have continued to heavily press and worry the Germans. A gale lashed the Mediterranean coast, sending waves crashing over the breakwater of Zuara Harbour. An angry north wind swept the desert and heavy rain rendered the salt marshes even more treacherous. In many places the salty sand was churned into slush six or seven inches deep. The Eighth Army’s work, however, went on as usual. The storm subsided on Saturday. AMERICAN LOSSES RETIREMENT TO AVOID ENCIRCLEMENT. GERMANS CLAIM CAPTURE '' OF SIDI BOUSID. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11 ajn.) LONDON, February 15. The British United Press reports that an Axis column, advancing west of the Faid Pass, had advanced 18 miles by 6 p.m. yesterday, threatening the important American position at Sbeitla. Another Axis column also advanced about 18 miles. An American unit, stationed at Sidi Bousid, between the two enemy columns counterattacked, suffered losses and withdrew westwards, to avoid encirclement. An Associated Press correspondent says about fifty Germans tanks overwhelmed the American artillery positions guarding the west exit of the Faid Pass . and then branched out north-westwards and south-westwards. The American anchor positions at Gafsa (about 90 miles west of Gabes) obviously are in danger of being cut off and it is assumed that Gafsa might

be evacuated. The Americans at Sidi Bousid suffered heavily. American light bombers from dawn until dusk heavily strafed troop concentrations, gun positions and motor convoys in an attempt to weaken the enemy thrust. However, Stukas played an important role in Rommel’s initial success, hitting the American ground forces hard. The Berlin radio states that the Germans have occupied Sidi Bousid and captured 21 tanks. MAJOR BATTLE CONSIDERABLE ENEMY ADVANCE. BUT SITUATION NOW UNDER CONTROL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, February 15. Reuter's correspondent at Allied Headquarters in North Africa says the situation following the German attack on the Faid Pass, is under control. It is a major battle. The Germans launched two attacks, one against the Sidi Bousid Road and the other north from Faid, Rommel’s panzers, serving as a spearhead. The attack was aimed either at enlarging the southern end of the German communication corridor or at staging a major battle in Southern Tunisia. Great numbers of infantry followed behind the enemy tanks, with heavy support from dive-bombers, and moved along the roads towards Sbeitla. By 9 a.m. they reached the junction of the Sidi Bousid Road. Other tanks and infantry headed towards Sbeitla 6n the high ridge northwards. The Germans simultaneously launched another attack from a hill north of Sened, crossing the Faid-Gafsa Road and heading north-westwards. This attack and G.erman pressure forced the Americans back to Sbeitla, but according to reports yesterday evening they had the situation well under control.