FIGHTING CONTINUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1943, Page 3

FIGHTING CONTINUES

ENEMY SHOWING SIGNS OF TIRING ALLIED AIRCRAFT PLAYING BIG ROLE. MANY TELLING ATTACKS MADE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.17 a.m.) RUGBY, February 23. The latest reports from the Thala area in Central Tunisia are that fighting is going on four miles south-east of the town. British armoured units, supported by American artillery, are engaged. The ground is very muddy and the enemy is showing signs of tiring. The enemy troops are part of the Twenty-first Armoured Division from Rommel’s army, supported by part of von Arneim’s Tenth Armoured Division.

Other messages state that considerable support is being given to the Allied troops by aircraft bombing and machine-gunning, from a low level, concentrations of enemy tanks and vehicles. In twenty separate attacks Allied aircraft helped .to check columns of reinforcements going towards and through the Kasserine Gap. Douglas bombers destroyed six tanks and ten lorries and a large force of Light nings strafed a column attempting to pass the gap while Airacobras attacked troops in the same area. British armoured units are using Churchill tanks.

One commentator says Rommel has been checked in fierce fighting in the south of Central Tunisia. The Germans put in heavy attacks in the area north-north-west of Kasserine yesterday, throwing in tanks and infantry but British and American units not only held them but hit back hard, inflicting heavy casualties and taking prisoners. Our men were strongly supported from the air.