REPORTED IN CENTRAL TUNISIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1943, Page 3

REPORTED IN CENTRAL TUNISIA

Further Axis Advance ALLIED DEFENCE LINE DENTED BUT REINFORCEMENTS SENT FORWARD LONDON, February 21. Tonight’s news from the North African front centres on the Kasserine Pass, in Central Tunisia. Following- General Eisenhower’s report that the Germans had made a heavy attack in this area, correspondents at Allied headquarters say the enemy smashed a way forward with tanks and infantry and occupied the pass itself. Thus they have dented the new Allied line along the ridges behind the town of Kessenne. Correspondents say that heavy fighting is still going on for the pass. British armoured forces and new American forces have been sent up io reinforce the defenders. Allied fighter aircraft shot up enemy transport heading tor the pass. The Germans made their third attack yesterday, after their previous attacks the previous day had been beaten back. The Germans also made a second attack yesterday further north, but this was repelled by British forces. ' The Columbia Broadcasting System’s correspondent in North Africa says that General Alexander, under General Eisenhower, has taken over the command of all the ground forces in Tunisia. r . , , . ~ . , , In Southern Tunisia the British Eighth Army, which took Medenine yesterday, has pressed on to the north-west and is half-way along the road to the village of Mareth, in the heart of the defensive system of that line. American-manned Liberator bombers crossed the Mediterranean today to make another daylight raid on Naples, where three ships were hit and on Crotone, in Southern Italy. Other aircraft attacked two enemy airfields on Crete for the second night running.