HEAVY TOLL TAKEN OF MEN AND MACHINES IN NORTHERN TUNISIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1943, Page 3

HEAVY TOLL TAKEN OF MEN AND MACHINES IN NORTHERN TUNISIA

Operations on Seventy-mile Front ENEMY STILL RETREATING IN CENTRAL AREA EIGHTH ARMY PROBING SOUTHERN DEFENCES LONDON, February 28. Allied forces in Northern Tunisia yesterday beat off more Axis attacks made at six points on a 70-mile front. They took a heavy toll of men and machines. A correspondent at Allied headquarters states that on Friday the enemy tried to cut through the Allied lines, lay minefields, harry transport and generally do as much damage as possible. The most northerly attack was made in wild mountainous country. It was made by Italians, who were met and held by French troops. The other five attacks were launched by Germans, who were opposed mostly by British troops. Seven enemy tanks were knocked out, making 14 for certain in the last two days. The number of Axis prisoners has risen to 850. There has been no estimate of the number killed and wounded. One enemy thrust got through the lines to a depth of about , 10 miles but the enemy was forced to withdraw. It is pointed out that the Allies have not a continuous line along the 70 mile front but a series of strongpoints. If the enemy makes several attacks at the same time he can slip through one or other of the valleys but it is a dangerous game and he runs the risk of being cut off. That accounts for the number of prisoners taken. •, Further south the German forces are still retreating from Kasserine. They are reported to be heading back to the positions from which they launched their offensive nearly a fort- ' night ago. They are being harried by American long-range guns in the mountains. Throughout yesterday Allied aircraft strafed enemy troops and transport in the northern battle area and wrecked many vehicles. At the other end of the front they raided the airfield at Gabes and enemy landing grounds. Twelve Axis, aircraft were shot down for the loss of two Allied planes, with one pilot safe. i 1 - There is only 200 miles between airfields supporting the Allied forces in Central Tunisia and those supporting the Eighth Army. Today’s news of the Eighth Army is that its patrols are in touch with the enemy south of Mareth. Some of the British armoured cars are now operating on the far side of the Mareth Mountains. Their job is to probe the strength of the enemy defences in that difficult country and to gauge what resistance they could put up. Advanced units of the Eighth Army are fighting in the Wadi Zigzau, a rock-strewn precipitous gorge which forms part of the main defence system of the Mareth Line. ’ Fighter-bombers from Malta attacked a, seaplane base and railway yards in Sicily. 7