POSITION UNDEFINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 March 1943, Page 4

POSITION UNDEFINED

S : IN TUNISIAN BATTLE ENEMY & ALLIED REPORTS. GERMAN COMMENTATOR’S ADMISSION. * (By -Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, March 24. German sources claim that by Tuesday evening all the British penetrations of the Mareth Line had been ironed out and that both sides were back in the approximate positions held on Sunday, when the Eighth Army launched its offensive. The Germans also claim that the outflanking force which reached the El Hamma region was severely punished in a surprise attack. There is no news of developments today from either side. Mr Churchill’s statement to the House of Commons, in which he said the German counter-at-tack had retaken most of the defence positions they lost, is therefore the latest authoritative statement. It apparently reported the situation ruling on Tuesday evening. It was based on information later than that contained in the latest Allied communique. The Germans admit that General Montgomery has not yet employed his maximum force and that they expect even more powerful attacks. Captain Sertorius, the Berlin radio’s commentator, declared that the great battle in South and Central Tunisia had not yet reached its climax. Strong attempts to penetrate the Mareth Line thus far had been frustrated,' he said, but fighting was still jn progress. It was not yet possible to predict the outcome. The Eighth Army’s great superiority in men and material enabled a quick replacement of its losses during the first three days' of the offensive. It had been General Montgomery’s practice since El Alamein to reserve some particularly good shock divisions until the last decisive phase, added Captain Sertorius. NAZI COUNTER-ATTACKS -THROWN BACK IN MARETH AREA. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 24. Rommel’s tanks and infantry fiercely counter-attacked in the Mareth area for 24 hours, but the Eighth Armv laie today had thrown back all attacks, sajo. Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army. -The British force which bypassed the ’Mareth Line to reacn ’.no area south-west of Gabes were reported eight miles south of El Hamma. where they were grappling with enemy armcured units in a struggle equaling m ferocity the Mareth gap battle. REPORTED CAPTURES WEST OF GABES AND FURTHER NORTH. .(Received This Day, Noon.) LONDON, March 24. .Messages from Algiers say the British, operating behind Mareth, captured position at Ejltabarga and advanced another two miles towards El Hamma, in face of strong enemy armoured resistance. The Algiers radio declared that the Americans have captured a height six miles north of Maknasse, and are continuing their advance towards the sea. Axis minefields are considerably hampering the American advance. A British United Press correspondent reports that the Americans repelled two heavy German thrusts towards El Guettar. The Germans lost about forty tanks, including some Mark 6’s. , ■ Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says that, operating from dawn, Allied planes yesterday engaged in an almost non-stop series of sorties against Axis positions in Tunisia. The number of sorties is known to have been considerably greater than on any day since the beginning of the El Alamein onslaught. - AIR ONSLAUGHT ALLIES SETTING NEW STANDARD. ATTACKS WITHOUT RESPITE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 24. “The Times” Cairo correspondent says-the Western Desert air striking force is hitting as hard in Tunisia as it did in Egypt and Libya . The operations are taking on a definite pattern. Heavy and medium bombers are blasting the Axis first line communications around Gabes during the night, while light and medium bombers /and fight-er-bomebrs are attacking in the immediate battle area during the day. Troop concentrations, motor transport, fixed positions and guns are being bombed and machine-gunned without respite. A trail of shattered vehicles, burning stores and blasted guns marks the path of our aircraft. Armour is no protection against the weight of our air attack. Many tanks and armoured cars have been shattered. Fighters all day long patrol the battle area, whether escorting bombers or on offensive sweeps. Enemy fighters are offering little opposition. A ceaseless offensive is also being waged against the Axis land and sea communications.