SEVERE REVERSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1943, Page 4

SEVERE REVERSE

SUFFERED BV AMERICANS IN TUNISIA MUCH EQUIPMENT LOST. CRACK GERMAN TROOPS PARTICIPATE. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, February 18. Detailed reports of the Axis action, resulting in the capture of Sbeitla, Kassarini and Feriana, dwell on the severe reverse the American armoured units suffered. The Associated Press correspondent at Algiers describes it as a crushing defeat, and adds that reports indicate that Rommel’s forces captured considerable American equipment, including Sherman tanks. Retfter’s correspondent in Tunisia says the Americans during the third day of the attack were forced to withdraw because of a thrust coming up behind them, north of the Faid-Sbeitla road. The Americans have withdrawn to the mountains below Tebessa. The famous Twenty-first Panzer Division participated, and the Axis thrust was supported by the Tenth Panzer Division, from von Arnim’s forces. The bridge of hills, to which the Americans have fallen back, between Feriana and Tebessa, to regroup, are defensible. Fighting has slackened for the moment, but the Germans are likely to move across the Ousseltia Valley, in an attempt to control the western ridge and thereby straighten the line along the series of ridges. A Press correspondent says the general feeling in Algiers is that the Germans, for the moment, have gone as far as they desire. The Allies are expected to withdraw in the centre in order to straighten their defence line. Reports from the fighting zone indicate that the German attack destroyed so much American armoured strength that a successful counter-attack in the near future is unlikely. Another report says about one-third of the Americans’ casualties were at Sidi Bousid. Casualties were heavy on both sides. One American combat group destroyed twenty enemy tanks in the first day’s operations.