LOST BY ROMMEL’S FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1943, Page 3

LOST BY ROMMEL’S FORCES

In Abortive Attack on Eighth Army ENEMY THROWN BACK ON NORTHERN FRONT HEAVY AXIS CASUALTIES REPORTED LONDON, March 9. In Southern Tunisia, Rommel is withdrawing his badlymauled divisions further back into hills north and north-west of Medenin. It is now known that the enemy left no fewer than 50 tanks in the hands of the British Eighth Army. French troops, some 120 miles to the north-west of Mareth, have occupied the important oasis of Tozeur, on the north shore of Shott el Jerid and on the railway to Gafsa, on which Rommel’s right flank rests. On the Northern Tunisia front, Allied troops have flung back an enemy thrust in the direction of Tamera, where Allied forces recently took up positions. British parachute troops are reported to have played a big part in repulsing the enemy. The Axis losses are reported to be five times heavier than those of the Allies. It seemed as if the enemy was trying to strike southwards towards Beja, which he failed to reach, in a series of furious thrusts last week. British forces have since counter-attacked near Beja and gained some ground against light German units.