DRIVING NORTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1943, Page 3

DRIVING NORTH

EIGHTH ARMY THROUGH MARETH DEFENCES / Occupation of El Hamma Also Reported GABES BOMBARDED HEAVILY BY NAVY AMERICAN PROGRESS TOWARDS COAST LONDON, March 29. OFFICIAL NEWS FROM NORTH AFRICA STATES THAT THE BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY HAS SMASHED THROUGH THE MARETH LINE AND ALREADY IT IS REPORTED THAT FIGHTING IS MOVING RAPIDLY NORTHWARD TO THE AREA OF THE GABES GAP AND BRITISH AND OTHER ALLIED TROOPS ARE HAMMERING AT THE ENEMY FLANK. A CORRESPONDENT ,AT ALLIED HEADQUARTERS SAYS THAT THE ENEMY IN THE GABES GAP IS BEING SUBJECTED TO A HEAVY NAVAL BOMBARDMENT. The Gemans are withdrawing' northward after the loss of / the complete Mareth defence system. It is stated that it was the Allied flank attack which caused Rommel to retreat. The enemy is already ploughing’ up the landing field at Gabes, states another correspondent. All through the British advance from Egypt to Tunisia the enemy always ploughed up his landing grounds when the British pressure became too great. The British forces on the. flank are now reported to have occupied El Hamma itself and advanced one mile beyond it. Further north, American forces in the El Guetar area are reported'to have made another thrust forward. The Americans captured a 1500 ft. hill and the Germans are now entrenched on another height on the edge of the coastal plain. Hard fighting has been going on here for every inch of ground. Further north still American forces are keeping up patrol operations east of Maknassi and Fondouk. . Bad weather is cutting down the power of the Allied air attack, though the Allied planes have managed to maintain strong blows against enemy transport round Gabes. What is most needed is clear weather, so that the Allies may concentrate their great air strength oxi the retreating* troops. First-class German troops are fighting at El Hamma. So far the Allies have taken 6000 prisoners. ACTION IN THE NORTH. In Northern Tunisia, fighting continues on high ground where the British First Army and French forces have advanced further and have taken a considerable number of prisoners.