THRUSTS HELD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1943, Page 3

THRUSTS HELD

AXIS ATTACKS IN NORTH TUNISIA HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED ON ENEMY. CONTINUED ALLIED ADVANCE IN CENTRAL SECTOR. LONDON, March 1. The main battle in Tunisia is still in the north, where Allied land and air forces yesterday held more German thrusts. Once again, they inflicted heavy losses on enemy men and transport. Elsewhere things were fairly quiet. In the central sector American and British patrols continue to push on towards the crossroads village of Sbeitla without running into the retreating enemy. There is nothing to report from General Montgomery’s Eighth Army in the south, except that patrols are again in touch with the enemy. A correspondent at headquarters states that yesterday the enemy attacks in the north were mostly on a reduced scale, except at one point in the Sidi Bousid area, where fighting went on all day. The enemy penetrated three or four miles beyond Sidi Bousid but. the Allied forces fought the Axis troops all the way and brought them to a standstill. Another correspondent says the enemy threw in fresh tanks and infantry and lost a lot of both. The exact number cannot yet be given but it is known to be large. The Allied losses have been light in comparison. The R.A.F. is going all out in the northern sector and provides today’s really big news from Tunisia. The slowing down of the Axis attacks is due not only to the magnificent and tenacious fighting by the British First Army and by the French, but also to Allied aircraft, which has done a terrific job in the past two days. A record number of sorties have been made for this battle area, the targets including enemy troops, transport columns and tanks.

American-manned Flying Fortresses flew to Sardinia in daylight today to attack an Axis supply base. With their fighter escort, they were the biggest air striking- force sent out from North Africa. They hit ships, docks,- ware houses and railway yards. EIGHTH ARMY J REPORTS OF OFFENSIVE . NOT CONFIRMED. BUT PREPARATIONS APPARENT. LONDON, February 28. Quoting an Algiers message, Ankara radio said the Eighth Army had started an offensive against the Mareth Line. There is no confirmation of this in London. The latest dispatches from correspondents in Tunisia stated that there was no essential change in the dispositions of the Eighth Army. Earlier, however, Algiers radio declared that General Montgomery had completed his preparations for an attack. Heavy artillery was in position and large movements of his armoured forces were reported and patrol activity was on a large scale. The radio added: “Everything leads to the conclusion that a big offensive is coming from the south.” Reuter states there are several indications that Field-Marshal Rommel intends to cling to the Mareth Line as long as possible. For instance, Eighth Army patrols observed German troops repairing demolitions in the Mareth Line which the French made under the Franco-German armistice. The Germans are also bringing up a great number of anti-aircraft guns. The weather is the finest for a long time, resulting in the cheering sight of as many as 50 fighters at one time passing over the Eighth Army. The only enemy planes visible are occasional reconnaissance machines. INDUSTRIAL TARGETS ATTACKED BY MALTA-BASED AIRCRAFT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 1. The headquarters of the R.A.F. at Malta has announced that yesterday our fighter bombers made two attacks on industrial targets in Sicily and last night Intruders destroyed one enemy aircraft' over Sicily. FIRST ARMY THREAT TO CHIEF PORTS. FURTHER ENEMY EFFORTS LIKELY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) . RUGBY, March 1. London commentators say that. because of the proximity of the British First Army to Bizerta and Tunis, further efforts to dislodge the Allies and forestall their offensive are expected in the interval that must elapse before the Eighth Army gets past the southern barriers. In spite of all efforts made hitherto, General Anderson remains only thirty miles from Tunis ana thirty-five miles from Bizerta, in positions he managed to reach soon after the Algerian landings. ALL THROWN BACK ATTACKS ON A REDUCED , ■ SCALE. WIDESPREAD AIR OPERATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.25 a.m.) RUGBY, March 1. Our patrols in Central Tunisia yesterday continued their advance from the Kasserine Pass and towards Sbeitla, without meeting with opposition, states a North African communique. It adds: In the north the enemy continued his attack generally, on a reduced scale. However northwest of Beja the attacks on our positions continued all day, the enemy throwing m tanks and infantry in an effort to pierce our positions. These attacks were, in every case thrown back, the enemy suffering losses in men and tanks. In the nothern sector fighterbombers and fighters made many attacks on enemy vehicles and troops. Direct hits were seen on a number of lorries and many tanks. Medium bomers attacked targets at Matcur, while

our fighter-bombers continued . heavy attacks oh the enemy landing grounds and troop concentrations in the Gabes area. At least three enemy fighters were destroyed during these operations and another five during successful widespread operations by Allied bombers over Tunisian, and Sicilian targets. Twelve of ours are missing.