EARLY JUNCTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1943, Page 4

EARLY JUNCTION

OF BRITISH & AMERICAN FORCES ANTICIPATED BY GENERAL MONTGOMERY. OFFENSIVE IN TUNISIA. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 21. The Allied forces are pressing their advance towards Maknassi as strongly and speedily as the weather allows. They are now within 50 miles of Rommel’s vital coast road. It is apparent, however, that ground conditions in the northern sector are still pinning down the First Army. . The Algiers radio tonight declared that the enemy are still retreating eastwards, falling back to Maknassi. The British United Press correspondent with the American Army, detailing ’ the capture of Sened Station, says the . Allies yesterday first captured the heights dominating the Sened gap. The attackers expected resistance, but after negligible small arms fire, Italians appeared waving handkerchiefs. The Berlin radio said: “In Central and south-west Tunisia, parts of the Eighth Army and parts of the First American Tank Division have begun movements which are considered to be a large-scale attempt to carry Rommel’s positions. Considerable detachments of the First American Tank Division last evening began an easterly movement from the Gafsa area. A British force consisting of fifty tanks and 2,0000 motorised infantry simultaneously started a north-easterly movement towards the coast, from the direction of Ksarhilane. General Montgomery declared: ‘“We are all looking forward shortly to joining up with the United States forces —then between us we shall finish . off this business very quickly.” Correspondents agree that bad weather had not prevented the Allied air ■ offensive against the Mareth Line mounting to a very intensive pitch. Al- : lied fighters and fighter-bombers, without respite, are blasting the Axis positions. Bombers pounding the Mareth Line on Friday night caused a terrific explosion between Mareth and Katina, 15 miles south of Gabes. PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS GULF OF GABES. HEAVY AND WIDESPREAD AIR ATTACKS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, March 21. A North Africa communique states: “In the Gafsa sector Allied forces yesterday continued their pressure on the enemy who continues to withdraw. We took some prisoners and made progress towards Makanassi about 70 miles east-north-east of Gafsa and about half-way on the road and railway to Mahares (on the Gulf of Gabes). “Patrol activity continues in the Eighth Army sector. Yesterday bombers and fighter-bombers of the Western Desert Air Force maintained attacks in strength on enemy positions in the Mareth area. Many hits were seen on the targets and fires were started. During fighter sweeps in this area one enemy fighter was destroyed. Enemy landing grounds were bombed during Friday night. Yesterday an enemy airfield between Gabes and Sfax was attacked twice. Bombs were seen to burst over the field on which there was a number of enemy aircraft. “During offensive sweeps over the central and northern sectors of the front our fighters made low-level attacks on enemy vehicles and gun ■positions. “Between Sicily and Tunisia an enemy convoy was bombed by 825 s (Mitchells), one vessel being left on Ifire. Large numbers of enemy aircraft were encountered and eleven were destroyed by the P3Bs (Lightmings) escorting our bombers. From all of these operations five of our aircraft are missing.” A Middle East air communique states: “During an attack on Tripoli] on Friday night at least four Junkers 88s were destroyed by our anti-air-craft defences.”