SERIES OF GAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 March 1943, Page 4

SERIES OF GAINS

MADE BY THE ALLIES IN TUNISIA EXPECTATION OF HARD FIGHTING. IN PROGRESS TOWARDS GABES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, March 28. The Eighth Army has completely regained the initiative in the El Hamma area and has pressed into the outskirts of the town, where fierce fighting continues. The First Army has launched an attack in . tile Djebel Abiod area, which has reached all its objectives. The i Americans have captured Fondcuk, and French forces under General Leclere, on the left flank of the Mareth positions, have occupied important heights. The attack on El Hamma was launched at dawn yesterday. The allday battle which'followed was the culmination of a week’s unbroken fighting, in which Allied air forces played a considerable part. The Axis, though driven back, are by no means broken and progress over’ the next sixteen miles, to Gabes, is likely to be as hardfought as last week’s gains. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says that for the first time for several days, mention is made in a communique of a particular area in the Mareth fighting. The reference to advances south-west of Mareth indicates that the fighting has; taken a new direction. The main Weight of the Eighth Army’s attack hitherto has been rather north-east-wards of Mareth, near the coast; General Montgomery followed the pattern of the El Alamein attack when his thrust near the coast, which was fierceIjTlresisted, was followed by a push in the south. The weather continues to be reasonably good, but a high wind is’djising in the battle zone and dust clouds are beginning to swirl. The Americans created a promising situation by the capture of Fondouk. They are now through the mountains of Central Tunisia and stand at the very edge of the plain forming a corridor for the Axis troops resisting the Eighth Army. The American infantry, attacking from the direction of Medjebelaouin at dawn- yesterday, covered 17 miles and captured Fondouk at night, after encountering slight opposition. The faint stirring observed in the far north during the past two or three days has become a small action. The British are now restoring their position in the Djebel Aboid area, which js the most threatened sector. The enemy’s recognition of his advantageous position in this sector is indicated by the strength of his resistance to the British attack. MOST SUCCESSFUL DRIVE ON EL HAMMA. IN REAR OF MARETH LINE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 28. “The thrusts of the Eighth Army towards El Hamma, which mean an advance of about ten miles, can be considered as a most successful operation,’' states a war correspondent at the Allied forces head- * quarters. “Our troops are now pressing the enemy, who continues « to fight for every inch of ground 1 on the outskirts of the town. - “Fighting is now taking place on both sides of the town which gave its name to the Mareth Line. Prisoners have been taken during this battle, „ “Another successful operation has fyeen carried out in the central sector by American troops, who, switching further north of the Gafsa-Maknassi Road, launched a strong infantry attack at dawn and captured Fondouk with hardly any less, and the Axis troops offering only slight opposition.'' * A German withdrawal in the El Hamma area, in southern Tunisia, may involve a slight shortening of the bottleneck through which any eventual withdrawal of enemy troops northwards may be expected to take place. But communications to date give no sign of such a withdrawal and the near future may hold nothing spectacular. The fact that the armies engaged are as highly skilled and trained and as well armed as any, in history, may make the battle long. But, if the enemy eventually decided to withdraw, they would have to show great skill. A withdrawal presumably will take place along the coast road stretching 110 miles up to Sousse and Rommel will have to keep four strong flank guards on the roads from El Guetar, Maknassi, Faid and Fondouk. The Germans, however, appear still to be well out on all four roads and there is.,,no sign of an imminent withdrawal. 'ENEMY PLANE DESTROYED OFF PORT SAID. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 1.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 28. R.A.F. headquarters in the Middle East states: “Our fighters destroyed a Junkers 88 some distance out to sea north of Port Said yesterday.” FIERCE FIGHTING CONTINUED IN EL HAMMA AREA. AIR ATTACKS ON ENEMY TRANSPORT. ' (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 28. A North African communique states: “On the Eighth Army front fierce fighting continues in the El Hamma area. Yesterday our troops continued their pressure on the enemy who were compelled to withdraw to new positions and our* forces pressed on to the outskirts of the town. Advances were ajso made south-west of Mareth and prisoners were taken. In Central Tunisia the Gafsa-Mak-nassi sector remained quiet, but further north American forces carried out an attack and captured Fondouk. In the First Army area a successful attack was carried out in the Djebel Aboid sector, and, despite strong resistance, our troops reached their objectives. Our patrols again were active in this area and inflicted casualties on the enemy. “On Friday night our bombers attacked enemy transport in the Gabes area. Kittyhawks continued their attacks in the same area yesterday. During offensive sweeps our fighters de-

stroyed three enemy aircraft. In the Maknassi sector, Hurricanes attacked enemy positions and a railway. During convoy patrols off the Algerian coast our fighters destroyed six enemy bombers. From all these operations two of our aircraft are missing.”