FLANK ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 March 1943, Page 3

FLANK ATTACK

IN THE EL HAMMA AREA POSITION NOT CLEARLY DEFINED. STRUGGLE OF ARMOURED FORCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 25. The latest reports show that the Eighth Army has been able to hold a bridgehead in the enemy’s fortified line, said Algiers radio today. The fluid and fluctuating battle in southern Tunisia was reported in London early this morning to be raging with undiminished violence, but few details are coming through. The British force which pushed round the hills toward the rear of the Mareth positions is said to be encountering stiff opposition. The exact point reached is not clear, and it is put variously at eight and 12 miles from El Hamma, on the western of the Gabes gap. One report yesterday said that these troops were grappling with enemy armoured forces in a struggle equalling in ferocity the battle of the Mareth gap. AMERICAN PROGRESS. A correspondent reported that the Americans in the Maknassi sector moved into a pass eastward of Maknassi after engaging the enemy, who were in the hills to the north-east and south-east. The Americans are now firmly established in the pass after clearing enemy mines. This move has enabled them to bring up long-range guns to shell an important enemy airfield at Megzouna, several miles farther east, from which enemy planes have been attacking. Reports late yesterday afternoon indicate that the shelling had destroyed five planes on the ground and that the enemy was evacuating the aerodrome. Unsuccessful enemy attempts to dislodge the Americans from their newlywon positions in southern Tunisia were described by a correspondent in North Africa cabling on Tuesday night, when he said, “The enemy today threw in a panzer division against the American positions on the Gafsa-Gabes road about 15 miles east of El Guettar, but when darkness fell the Americans were still holding the same positions as in the morning. “It is estimated that the enemy has lost at least 20 tanks out of between 50 and 60 which he employed, supported by artillery and infantry. But his artillery succeeded in knocking out a number of American guns. The enemy put in two big attacks during the day, both with dive-bomber support, the first an hour after dawn and the second late this afternoon.” General Giraud’s forces have pushed farther eastward along the northern shore of the salt lakes. SPLENDID WORK a DONE BY ALLIED PLANES. ATTACKS ON ENEMY BASES AND TRANSPORT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY, March 25. Describing air activity in North Africa, an official communique states: “Yesterday bombers of the north-west African air forces attacked the docks at Ferryville (near Bizerta). Hits were observed all over the dock area, and large fires were started. Other formations attacked enemy airfields, where many bombs burst among aircraft on the ground. Light bombers attacked enemy troops and vehicles south-east of El Guettar. Fighter-bombers and fighters destroyed a number of enemy vehicles in low-level attacks. Light and medium bombers of the Western Desert Air Force attacked many enemy forces in the Mareth area. Low-lying aircraft made two attacks on enemy vehicles in the El Hamma region, destroying several tanks and many other vehicles. “Ten enemy aircraft were destroyed in the course of all these operations, from which four of our aircraft are missing.”