FIRST ARMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 March 1943, Page 3

FIRST ARMY

NO LONGER ON DEFENSIVE HEAVY GUNS IN ACTION. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE TO ENEMY. LONDON, March 3. The British First Army is no longer on the defensive in Northern Tunisia. Today’s Allied communique speaks of Allied troops continuing their 1 pressure on the enemy. Allied heavy guns yesterday inflicted considerable damage on the German positions. The enemy made three small attacks but all were driven back and two more Axis tanks were knocked out. A correspondent says it looks like the end of this particular German offensive, which has cost the enemy a lot of men and equipment without winning much ground. The British Eighth Army’s patrols in the south are keeping a close watch on the enemy’s movements, particularly his attempts to strengthen the Mareth defences. A Cairo correspondent says it looks as though the enemy is not making preparations for a stand in the Gabes gap, 30 miles behind the Mareth Line. Rommel seems to have made up his mind that it is the Mareth Line or nothing. The main Allied air attacks yesterday was by United States Flying Fortresses, which bombed the docks at Tunis and La Goulette. Six Axis aircraft were destroyed for the loss of one Allied plane. While the Allies in central Tunisia have advanced beyond Sbeitla and Feriana, though hampered by thick minefields, the British in the north were reported yesterday to have held all German attacks. ’ A correspondent describes how our forces finally smashed all German efforts to take our positions round Beja. By Monday the Germans had lost 30 tanks, he said, but they came again, and in heavy fighting lost 10 more. They then began to fall back : and by Monday evening the retreat had begun in earnest, with our artillery following up and hammering hard at the enemy. PRESSING ON ALLIED UNITS IN CENTRAL TUNISIA. DETAILS OF AIR OPERATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) ' (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) RUGBY, March 3. s A North African communique 'states: “Leading elements of the Allied forces yesterday pressed on to the south and south-east of Sbeitla.. In the central sector there is little activity. “In Northern Tunisia Allied forces continued their pressure on enemy areas north of Beja and east of Sedjenane, where our heavy artillery inflicted considerable damage on enemy positions. “There is nothing to report from the Eighth Army, apart from patrol activity.” Our aircraft were active throughout the day in the northern sector. Bombers, Fighter-bombers, and fighters made many attacks on enemy ground targets. The ports of Tunis and La Goulette were bombed and many hits were seen in target areas. Five enemy fighters were destroyed during the day and one bomber on Monday night. One of our aircraft is missing. Further reports of air operations last week have confirmed the destruction of two enemy aircraft, not previously reported.” Sedjenane is a railway station 23 miles west of Mateur and 23 miles north of Beja. LARGE FIRES STARTED IN PALERMO. (British Official Wireless.) (Receiver This Day, 9.25 a.m.) RUGBY, March 3. A Middle East air communique states: “Medium bombers attacked Palermo Harbour on Monday night. Four large fires were started and bombs, across the jetty, caused a persistent fire. None of our aircraft is missing.”