LEADING PART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 March 1943, Page 4

LEADING PART

IN EIGHTH ARMY ONSET MEW ZEALAND- & HIGHLAND DIVISIONS. ROMMEL HURRYING NORTH. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, March 30. The Second New Zealand Division and the Fifty-First Highland Division played a leading part in the Eighth Army’s fighting, says the Algiers correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting system. The New . Zealanders duplicated their El Agheila performance by advancing 100 miles around Rommel’s flank and bringing off a bold outflanking manoeuvre. El Hamma was captured by the New Zealanders. The Eighth Army is now pressing on towards Sfax. Reuter’s correspondent in. Tunisia says the junction of the Fifth and Eighth armies probably cannot be long delayed. “The Eighth Army’s victory in Southern Tunisia is complete,” says the National Broadcasting Corporation's correspondent at Algiers. “Rommel has not only abandoned the Mareth Line and the formidable mountain range on the threshold of Central Tunisia, but the whole Gabes Gap. It was thought that he might make a last desperate stand at the gap before ordering the general retreat which has now begun under a hail of bombs, cannon shells and machine-gun fire from Western Desert Air Force squadrons.” Reuter’s military correspondent says there are no suitable positions along the coastal region north of Gabes where Rommel would be likely to make a stand. His main thought must be to join up with von Arnim’s forces. He will probably try to establish, himself on a perimeter including Bizerta and Tunis and running to Sousse or to Hammamat. FURTHER GAINS MADE IN VARIOUS SECTORS. LAND & AIR OPERATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 30. A North African communique states: “The Eighth Army continued to advance yesterday and has now occupied El Hamma and Gabes. In spite of strong enemy rearguard action, our forward troops have made further progress to the north. The total of prisoners since March 20 now numbers 8,000. “Allied forces in the Gafsa sector have made progress following upon local attacks and have taken 200 prisoners. “In the northern sector, in an area north of Djebel Abiod, our troops have continued to advance in difficult mountainous country and against strong enemy opposition. Over 700 prisoners have been taken in this area during the past two days. “On Sunday night our bombers attacked enemy transport and lines of communication in the Sousse and Sfax areas. Yesterday fighters and fighterbombers carried out attacks on enemy vehicles and troop concentrations. Fighter-bombers and light bombers of the Western Desert Air Force attacked enemy troops north of Gabes, destroying and damaging many vehicles. Seventeen enemy aircraft were destroyed during the day. From all these operations ten of our aircraft are missing.”. ITALIAN BOMBERS FOUR DESTROYED BY R.A.F. OFF TUNISIA. NEW ZEALANDER ACCOUNTS FOR ONE. (Special P.A. Correspondent.) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 30. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent states that Flying Officer J. M. Torrance, of Epsom, shot down an Italian Savoia bomber which was attacking an Allied convoy off the Tunisian coast. It was one of four shot down, without loss, by the R.A.F. GERMAN REARGUARDS FIERCE EFFORT TO DELAY PURSUIT. EIGHTH ARMY GATHERING IN BOOTY. (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 30. Untiringly pursuing Rommel’s battered panzers and transport up the Tunisian coast General Montgomery’s vanguards are driving before them German rearguards, which are making a fierce effort to delay the pursuit. The retiring Germans are confronted with new dangers from their flanks as American spearheads from El Guetar, from Maknassi and from Fondouk threaten their line of retreat. ’ Probably no army in history has been in such an extraordinary position as Rommel’s, which, while withdrawing after defeat, simultaneously is repeatedly menaced from its flanks with the possibility of being cut up and pinned against the sea. Despatches from Allied sources say the Americans this morning drove eastward from El Guetar, aiming to clear up the last Axis forces between them and the Eighth Army, which is surmounting all obstacles in its path, mopping up and gathering in a large amount of booty. FEARS OF INVASION MUSSOLINI’S REPORTED DEMANDS. ADDITIONAL FIGHTING FORGES AND FUEL. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m. ) LONDON. March 30. “Mussolini, fearing an Allied invasion of Italy, has demanded from Germany many more soldiers, planes and fuel,” says the “Manchester Guardian.” “Mussolini has stated that these are indispensable for the successful continuance of the war. It is reported that Mussolini has demanded nine additional German divisions, including three panzer divisions, consid-

erable increases in air force and more coal and oil.” London military observers reported last November that Italy had only about one million front line troops available to defend her 1200-mile coastline against Allied invasion. The Berlin radio announced today that a number of new type landing launches had arrived at Gibraltar. They are capable of carrying 300 to 400 men.