MUCH STIFFER ALLIED RESISTANCE IN TUNISIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1943, Page 3

MUCH STIFFER ALLIED RESISTANCE IN TUNISIA

Enemy Suffers Heavy Casualties WITHOUT GAINING ANY MORE GROUND MORE AXIS SHIPS DESTROYED LONDON, February 23. The Germans in Tunisia have come up against much stiffer Allied resistance, both on land and in the air and the latest fierce fighting cost the enemy heavy casualties without the gain of any ground. ' The main German thrust north of the Kasserine Gap has been checked by British and American units and by Allied aircraft four miles short of Thala. The second German thrust from Kasserine, made more in the direction of Tebassa, made some progress at first yesterday but in the afternoon Allied bombers took command of the situation and the Germans were forced to withdraw. They lost a number of tanks and vehicles. Today’s communique from Allied headquarters states that a considerable number of enemy tanks have been destroyed in the last few days’ fighting and many others damaged. The only/ other German activity of any importance yesterday in the First Army’s battle area was at a point 60 miles north-east of Thala, where a strong German patrol was firmly dealt with. Some prisoners were taken. I In .Southern Tunisia, British Eighth Army guns in the Medenine area have been exchanging fire with the Germans in the village of Mareth, while British armoured patrols are pushing forward in the direction of the Mareth Line. More Axis supply ships have been sent to the bottom of the Mediterranean by British aircraft. One tanker of 12,000 tons was attacked a few nights ago, without the result beingknown. Obviously she was damaged and brought to a standstill, because on Sunday night she was spotted again in the same area. It was decided to finish her off for good and torpedo bombers from Malta were sent out to make a job of her. She was hit by three torpedoes. Repeated explosions occurred and the ship was set on fire from end to end. A fourth torpedo clinched the matter and the ship broke up. She was fully laden with petrol and the Axis forces in North Africa lost very nearly 3,000,000 gallons of much-needed aviation spirit. Another vessel was bombed and sunk off the Tunisian coast. She was one of a convoy of troopships escorted by warships and aircraft.