GREAT CHANGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 March 1943, Page 3

GREAT CHANGE

IN FAVOUR OF ALLIES TEXT OF MR. CHURCHILL'S STATEMENT, COMMENDATION OF FIGHTING FORCES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, March 30. The Prime Minister, in a statement to the House of Commons on the progress of the war in Tunisia, said: “Since I informed the House last week of the check sustained on the Mareth front, the situation has turned very much in our favour. General Montgomery’s decision to throw his weight on to a turning movement, instead of persisting in a frontal attack, has been crowned with success. Another severe defeat has been inflicted by the Desert Army upon the Axis forces they have so long pursued. According to my latest information, we occupied El Hamma last night and our vanguards passed through Gabes this morning. The decisive break-through of Lieut.General Freyberg’s turning force was aided to an extraordinary degree by novel forms of intense air attack, in which many hundreds of British aircraft were simultaneously employed. The enemy’s losses in men and material have, of course, been very serious to him and the panzer divisions in particular have been remarkably mauled and enfeebled. It is, however, too soon to say what proportion of the Italian 20th and 21st Army Corps has been left behind. (Laughter.) Operations are being prosecuted with the utmost energy. It must be remembered that this new exploit of the Desert Army must be viewed in its relation to the general scheme on the whole Tunisian front. The very fine and unceasing advance of the United States forces and increasing activities on the French sector and on the front of the British First Army all play their part in the combination of General Eisenhower, the supreme commander, and his deputy, General Alexander. I should not close without uttering a warning against any under-rating of the task which lies before the whole group of Allied armies and air forces in Tunisia. The country is very difficult and abounds in defensive positions. But we have every reason to be satisfied with the progress already made by our superior forces and superior equipment under skilful and resolute commanders.” Mr Churchill’s statement was received with loud cheers. NOTE OF WARNING SOUNDED, BY GENERAL SMUTS. SECOND PHASE BEGINNING.

LONDON, March 29. General Smuts today warned the people of South Africa against expecting an early end to the war. We had come to the end of the first phase, the period of defence, he said, and now we were beginning the second phase and must guard against any slackening in our war effort.

ITALIAN PRISONERS 274,000 IN BRITISH HANDS. LONDON, March 30. The number of Italian prisoners of war in British hands is 274,000 —at least that was the total up to two days ago. The figure was given in the House of Commons today by the Secretary of War, Sir James Grigg.

army that has been assembled in this war is moving eastward along the road, and he adds, “There is a definite atmosphere of exhilaration.” RACE FOR SOUSSE. Both “The Times” and the “Daily Express” state the opinion that Rommel will make for Sousse. The “Express” says that the Afrika Korps and General Alexander’s five Allied main groups are engaged in a 150-mile race to Sousse, with the continued existence of the Germans at stake. Sousse is both a port of evacuation and the I only place where Rommel can hope to make a junction with General von Arnim. The odds are heavily with the Allies, as General Alexander planned. The Paris radio’s military commentator, M. Jean Paqui, admitted that the battle of Tunisia is “unequal,” and that the Allies were bound to win. The British and Americans had crushing superiority over the Axis, and Generals Montgomery and Patton started the offensive only when they were in a position to be certain of victory. The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper “Allehanda” says that Germany military spokesmen are talking about a “last stand” in Tunisia.

By special arrangement, Reuter’s world service, in addition to other special sources of information, is used in the compilation of the overseas intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved. Such of the cable news on this page as is so headed has appeared in “The Times,” and is cabled to Australia and New Zealand by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of “The Times” unless expressly stated to be so.