SPLENDID SUPPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 March 1943, Page 3

SPLENDID SUPPORT

GIVEN BY ALLIED AIRCRAFT GREAT SUCCESS IN ATTACKS ON TANKS. SHIPS BOMBED IN COASTAL PORTS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 26. “There has been some activity in the Eighth Army area, where fighting continues with ups and downs,” cables a correspondent at Allied headquarters in North Africa. “Our troops are working to improve their positions. In the Gafsa sector Axis forces are attacking in the hills two or three miles from Bouhamra. In the Maknassi sector we are in contact with the enemy all along high ridges bordering the road, and in a pass ten miles south-east of Sened station and five miles from Maknassi. In most cases heavy fighting is going on between our own and the enemy infantry, with heavy artillery support on both sides. Action, being tactical and local, has the appearance of being an an increased scale, but the guns no longer engage in long-range effort. On our side .the main work is being carried out by low-flying aircraft, the pilots of which have now mastered the art and become real infantry of the air. They were particularly successful yesterday in the course of attacks against enemy tanks generally, managing to drop their bombs before the tanks had time to get their arms in action. During Wednesday night Bisley bombers attacked a landing ground at Jebel Tabarga. This flield was well covered by bombs. A formation of Spitfires, which encountered Messerschmitt 210 s, strongly escorted by fighters, destroyed one and obliged the bombers to jettison their bombs over enemy territory. Baltimores bombed a railway junction westward of Sfax, incidentally destroying an enemy fighter. A Junkers 88 was destroyed by Western Desert Air Force bombers, which were engaged in bombing enemy positions southward of El Hamma. Meanwhile Kittyhawks carried out strafing attacks on road transport and troops, and also scored hits on several tanks. The most important operation of the day was entrusted to Flying Fortresses, which continued to hit enemy supply lines in force. They made a particularly successful attack on docks and shipping at Sousse. Many hits were seen within the target area. They scored a hit on a large ship and sank a small ship. Our aircraft made a record number of sorties in Northern and Central Tunisia during the day, destroying several fighters which attempted interception.’ MUCH IN CONFLICT ALLIED & ENEMY REPORTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 26. The Algiers radio reports that General Montgomery’s flanking force is striking towards Gabes and has taken an important position near El Hamma, rendering the position of the Afrika Korps dangerous. It is also reported that the Eighth Army advances mentioned in a communique included the Mareth coastal area. “Several hand to hand engagements near Wadi Zigzau ended to the advantage of the British, who'advanced at several points,” the British United Press says. The Eighth Army, in- improving its positions in the Mareth area, carried out frontal infantry attacks against Rommel’s main defensive positions.” I The Berlin radio’s version was: “Fighting with superior enemy forces continued in north and south Tunisia ajid the enemy nowhere was able to penetrate our lines.” The Rome radio said: “After the severe losses inflicted by the Axis | counter-attacks, the Eighth Army drive against the Mareth Line appreciably slackened yesterday. The Italians and Germans stopped the "British columns from advancing towards El Hamma.” Chief interest in areas south-east of Sened and south-west of Maknassi is the First Army’s threat to Rommel’s rear positions, says the British United Press. Only the Djebelmandelat hills lie between the American forces and the coastal road and the enemy, in order to counter this threat, has thrown in considerable forces in the Djebelmandelat area. The British United Press points out that Rommel in the Djebelmandelat area does not possess natural defence advantages similar to the Mareth Line, to help contain . the American move from Maknassi or from positions the Americans have consolidated near Djebelboudabou.