THREAT REMOVED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1943, Page 3

THREAT REMOVED

IMPROVEMENT IN TUNISIAN SITUATION HOW kasserine pass WAS CAPTURED. EIGHTH ARMY GATHERING TO ATTACK. \ (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, February 26. The recent enemy threat to the Allied right flank in Central Tunisia has been removed with the capture of the ■Kasserine Pass, states a correspondent at Allied Headquarters. British and American infantry, he said, led the attack on the pass which began yesterday soon after sunrise. The British attacked the high ground north-east of the pass while the Americans attacked the hills to the southwest. Tanks, following up, moved along the road, the sappers clearing the mines laid by the enemy. The enemy ’did not put up much resistance and by three p.m. the pass, nearly six miles long, was in Allied hands. The enemy continued to withdraw and our troops are following up. In the early part of the week the enem?/ made several reconnaissances near Sbiba. The withdrawal of fifteen miles towards Sbeitla was obviously made because of dangers to the flank from our occupation of Kasserine. Allied aircraft again kept up attacks and covered the Allied advance. Fortresses which raided the docks at Bizerta, escorted by Lightnings, met a formation of Messerschmitts, which were about to attack the fortresses but turned away when Spitfires appeared. Our fighters also attacked enemy troops in the Gabes area and heavy attacks were made on Wednesday night on Gafsa and Sbeitla by Bisley bombers, which started large fires and explosions. The situation in Tunisia is acknowledged by London observers to have been disquieting and the danger is not past as long as the united armies of General von Arnim and Rommel are able to operate against the Allied forces, still separated by 150 miles of difficult country. While there are some fears that the recent setback -suffered by the Allies may postpone the expulsion of the enemy from Tunisia and accordingly delay the invasion of Southern Europe from this particular springboard, the outlook is not viewed too tragically. The First Army already has built up great reserves of troops, stores and equipment and the Eighth Army is gathering for an attack in the south, while Axis losses of shipping and aircraft are impressive. It EIGHTH ARMY GROUPING GERMANS FEAR ATTACK. LIVELY PATROL ACTIVITY. (Received This Day, 12.15, p.m.) LONDON, February 26. The Berlin radio has declared that heavy Eighth Army groupings in the Medenine and Foumatouine areas suggest an intention to attack in the very near future. It added. that the British have brought up tanks heavy guns and a major concentration of motorised forces of all descriptions has been observed. R.A.F. fighter formations have moved to the front. Lively patrol activity is proceeding along the whole front. A German communique claims that in op- ' erations in the central Tunisian mountains powerful Anglo-American units were routed or mauled. Some 4.000 prisoners were taken, 235 tanks. 109 armoured cars and 161 gun’s captured or destroyed.