WITHOUT SUCCESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1943, Page 3

WITHOUT SUCCESS

GERMAN DELAYING ATTACKS IN TUNISIA AT BOTH ENDS OF FRONT. LOSSES OF EIGHTH ARMY RELATIVELY LIGHT. LONDON, March 12. The Germans in Tunisia have made more delaying attacks at both ends of the front. , General Eisenhower reports that the enemy in the north attacked the Allied positions west of Sed Jenane three times yesterday, but without success. In the south the only official news today is that Allied aircraft bombed the enemy’s Mareth positions. A correspondent with the troops in front of the Mareth Line states that when Rommel made his attack the British Eighth Army’s losses were only 200 men killed and wounded. Threats to the rear of the Axis forces in the Mareth Line are reappearing with the advances of the Allied forces in central Tunisia, an earlier message stated. The reoccupation of Gafsa, which would provide a base for a thrust along the railway to Maknassi and the coast, is likely to be achieved soon. It is probable that the enemy has already begun to evacuate Gafsa to avoid being trapped' between the French, British and American columns pressing from the west and north. COMING BLOW WILL BE POWERFUL & DECISIVE DECLARATION BY GENERAL MONTGOMERY. LONDON, March 12. Lieutenant-General Montgomery told the Tass agency correspondent with the Eighth Army that fighting in Tunisia would be severe and stubborn. The Axis Powers would do their utmost to hold on during the summer and then launch an • offensive. “Counter-attacks to disrupt our preparations are possible, but the enemy’s final fate here is sealed,” he said. “I always go for certainties, that is why our preparations must be complete and unhurried.” ( After paying tribute to the Red Army, which had shown miracles of heroism, and whose operations had helped the Eighth Army to achieve victory, General Montgomery said:— “Whatever happens in the future, one thing is clear. The Germans will not succeed in altering the general military situation. Our preparations may appear slow, but the comin blow .will , be powerful and decisive.” SIXTY=TON TANKS VALUE DENIED BY AMERICAN EXPERT. SUPERIORITY OF MOBILE GUNS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 11. Sixty-ton tanks will disappear from the battlefields before the war ends because fire-power and not bulk is the test of any tank. Major-General Campbell, Chief of Ordnance, told the Associated Press of America this when referring to reports from Tunisia that the Americans had nothing to equal the German Mark VI 62-ton tanks. General Campbell said the Americans had four types of the mobile field guns that would and had put shells through the German armour. The Americans had built 60-ton tanks more than a year afeo, but the armoured forces decided against them, because they were too heavy and unmanoeuvrable. “We are very prone to become confused over the tank’s real purpose,” he said. “There is no excuse for any tank except for its fire power. We knew eight months ago that the Germans were about to spring a new heavy tank on us. We believe our solution with big mobile guns is better than the Germans’ heavy tanks.” POWERFUL BLOW STRUCK BY R.A.F. FIGHTERS. TANKS & OTHER VEHICLES DESTROYED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.). RUGBY, March 12. During a half-hour attack in Southern Tunisia, low-flying R.A.F. fighters considerably damaged a strong German armoured unit, which was stationary, probably refuelling, before attacking a Fighting French unit. The result was that five tanks were destroyed and two [eft in flames, seventeen armoured cars badly hit and five left in flames, ten lorries badly damaged and three troop-carrying vehicles totally destroyed. When a German relief party arrived Kittybombers followed to complete the fighters’ work. TOLL TAKEN OF ENEMY BARGES & PLANES. OFF COAST OF SICILY. (British Official Wireless.) , (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY, March 12. Allied Force Headquarters in North Africa states: . Medium bombers, with a fighter escort, attacked an enemy convoy of motor-barges, with escort vessels, off the coast of Sicily. Several barges were hit by bombs and one blew up. Three of the enemy aircraft escorting the convoy were shot down. “On Wednesday, fighters and fight-er-bombers of the Western Desert Air Force made attacks on enemy vehicles in the Kharrilane area, destroying a number. Two raids by enemy divebombers were intercepted and driven off by our fighters, who destroyed one Junkers 87 and three fighters. Seven of our planes are missing. “Further reports of attacks on enemy airfields near Tunisia on Wednesday show that five more enemy fighters were destroyed, making a total of thirteen.”