FRONTAL ASSAULT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1943, Page 3

FRONTAL ASSAULT

COMBINED WITH GREAT OUTFLANKING THRUST Into Area West of Gabes AMERICANS PRESSING ON FROM MAKNASSI GERMANS SUFFER HEAVILY IN COUNTERATTACK LONDON, Marell 23. It is officially announced in North Africa that troops of the British Eighth Army have established a bridgehead through the Mareth Line. A despatch from a correspondent, who wrote his message yesterday standing' in the Mareth Line, states that the bridgehead is 1,000 yards across and 1,600 yards deep, at the northern and best defended end of the line. The attack was launched, under cover of intense artillery fire, in the early hours of Sunday and by 8 p.m. the British troops had driven a wedge 1,000 yards deep, about 2,000 yards from the end of the line. Close, fierce fighting went on during the night. The British forces made crossings over the deep wadi on which the flank of the Mareth Line is based. The attacking troops stormed six concrete strongpoints. It appears that the first and strongest of the three main Mareth defence lines has been breached. Our troops are now reported to be streaming forward to bring Rommel’s main forces to action. z . ■ Other British troops have made a big outflanking movement, which has taken them well round the right flank of Rommel’s forces, to a point due west of 4 Gabes. These forces are believed to be in the vicinity of El Hamma, about 20 miles west of Gabes. The outflanking troops have air support and bombers knocked out nine of 32 German tanks which appeared to be on the lookout for the British troops in this area. BATTLE FOR COASTAL CORRIDOR ' Forty miles to the north-west, the Germans have opened a heavy attack on the American positions south-east of El Guetar. The attack was made by 50 tanks, which are reported to have been stopped by American artillery located in high ground. The Germans have suffered heavily so far and fighting continues. Other American forces, striking eastward, are pushing on from Maknassi, 55 miles beyond Gafsa, the capture of which by the Americans was announced earlier by the Algiers radio. The going is now much stiffer. Five miles outside the town there is a narrow pass, well defended by German artillery. Maknassi was dive-bombed four times yesterday. At the northern end of the Tunisian front, in the coastal sector, troops of the British First Army have recaptured Nefsa railway station. POWERFUL AIR OFFENSIVE Fighter-bombers from Malta yesterday attacked factories in Sicily and Spitfires shot up trains. Other aircraft left a trail of destruction in Southern Italy. In moonlight shipping and other targets at Palermo were bombed and six fighters were shot down. On Sunday night, for the second night running, Middle East heavy bombers raided Naples.