BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY IN TUNISIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 February 1943, Page 3

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY IN TUNISIA

Further Axis Advance AGAINST AMERICAN FORCES IN CENTRAL SECTOR

LONDON, February 17. .' The British Eighth Army, which is moving westward in Tunisia, was last reported a good 20 miles: past Ben Gardane, pushing on towards Medenine, the next outpost of the Mareth Line. Only 150 miles now separates this spearhead from the British First Army’s southern flank in Tunisia, where the Germans have been so active lately. A Cairo reporter states that it is clear that the fightingnow going.on between the Americans and the Axis forces in Central Tunisia has a considerable bearing on the progress of General Montgomery’s advance. The enemy is trying to form a deep defensive wall along the high ground opening on to the coastal region. Only so long as he feels really secure here will he be safe in facing the Eighth Army along the Mareth Line. In Central Tunisia the Germans have pushed the Americans back some 50 miles on a front about 30 miles wide. General Eisenhower’s communique speaks of fighting on the outskirts of Sbeitla. This indicates an enemy advance of about 15 miles yesterday in this sector, after American counterattacks had failed in the face of heavier armour and dive-, bombers. The Allied air forces have evacuated three of their forward aerodromes in Central Tunisia and have moved to prepared fields further back. From these they are operating at maximum strength. Further south the second Axis drive which isolated Gafsa is now moving up to a place in the hills about 40 miles north of Gafsa.