TERRIFIC FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1943, Page 4

TERRIFIC FIGHTING

LIKELY AT ANY TIME IN TUNISIA INTENSE ALLIED PREPARATION. GERMANS NERVOUS ABOUT FLANKS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. There is a comparative lull at present on the Tunisian front, but terrific fighting may any time flare s up along the 200 miles battleline. Quietude veils intense Allied preparations for drives, intended either to annihilate the Axis forces or to compel an evacuation, giving British and American sea and air power further opportunities for the destruction of the enemy. The only major land activities during the past 24 hours have been the capture by Moroccan troops of the town of Cape Serrat, west of Bizerta, and the American drive in the El Guetar area. Thus far there have been no reports of German resistance at Cape Serrat. The Berlin radio had previously announced that the Germans had captured mountain positions at Jefna. This is tentamount to an admission of retreat, because Jefna is 20 miles east of Sed Jenane and ten miles west of Mateur and has always been in German hands. Dispatches from the front line emphasise that the occupation of Cape Serrat is valuable, because it anchors the Allied line to the seacoast. The Germans apparently are retreating hastily, leaving ammunition dumps and supplies undestroyed. General Patton’s American Second Corps, despite difficulties of terrain and extensive minefields, is persisting in its drive from El Guetar to link up with. General Montgomery. The Algiers radio tonight reported that the Americans had advanced, killing many Germans, taking prisoners and destroying or capturing a large number of tanks. The radio added that the Axis forces launched powerful tank-support-ed counter-attacks, but that these were all repulsed, after which the Americans gained ground. Reuter reports that the Americans captured more than thirty mortars, which are valuable prizes because mortars are one of the most deadly and m,ost accurate weapons the Germans are using against infantry. When the Germans called in the Luftwaffe, the Americans had the further joy of seeing nearly a whole stuka formation fall from the sky. The Luftwaffe threw in about 20 stukas, which Ameri-can-manned Spitfires intercepted ten miles south of El Guetar. Fourteen German fighters were in the vicinity, but only one attempted to support the stukas. He was driven off. The Spitfires, in a running fight, knocked down fourteen stukas. two American pilots shooting down three each. Despite bad weather, the Allies elsewhere are probing the Axis lines and regrouping. The Germans, nervous of Allied thrusts which threaten to infiltrate from the mountains to the coastal plain, are either counter-attacking or heavily bombarding Allied positions. The French, in the Pichon area, repulsed two tank attacks. COMFORT FOR ITALY “PEP” TALKER’S REMINDER. FULL WEIGHT OF BRITAIN . & UNITED STATES. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. The Italian “pep” talker, Maio Appelius, broadcasting on the Rome radio, said: “The war is approaching Italian territory and we must prepare for that eventuality. The entire Anglo-Ameri-can strength is being concentrated against us. Thus, after three years of facing the might of the British Empire, Italy must also take on the United States.” ALLIED ATTACKS ANTICIPATED BY GERMANS. COMMENT ON INCREASING CONCENTRATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. Forecasting early Allied offensives in Tunisia the German News Agency says the British at Medjez El Bab have completed regrouping after the inclusion of the First -Infantry Division, which hitherto had not appeared on the northern front, and had b?en considerably strengthening their artillery. The news agency also rdporfs heavy swaying battles east of Maknassi, where the Americans are attempting to debouch on to the plains. It adds that the Eighth Army has carried out additional concentrations in the Oudref area. British assault divisions have pushed spearheaVs towards Rommel’s defences, after clearing extensive minefields. The possibility of an attempted Dunkirk apparently is exercising the minds of the Axis troops. Reuter's correspondent with the Eighth Army refers to five captured German infantrymen independently asking what the British Dunkirk was like. One inquired whether the German bombing there was anything like what the Germans are now getting. Military commentators in London suggest that it is tqo early to expect an Axis Dunkirk at present, because the bulk of the Axis troops have escaped from the Mareth Line, and, despite casualties, the Afrika Korps is still a hard nut, although the Allied nutcrackers are steadily if not spectacularly exerting pressure. Nevertheless, as the Axis defence area diminishes, it becomes easier to defend, at least until adequate air support for the field armies is impossible. There are as let no signs of such a danger point being reached, and until Rommel is too cramped, he will continue fighting delaying actions. Commenting om British naval reinforcements for the Mediterranean, London observers are speculating whether the Italian fleet will attempt to assist an evacuation. A Rome correspondent of a Madrid newspaper says the Italians believe the fleet will be used “when the hour has struck.” A Vichy newspaper infers similarly, saying the fate of Tunisia will be decided between Naples and Bizerta. After a visit to the front, including Gabes, General Giraud said: “The Axis will have to do a Dunkirk. There will soon be lots of white caps floating on

the Mediterranean. We are on the road to victory.” The Columbia broadcasting system broadcaster said the Axis troops are increasingly deserting in significant numbers, Austrians, in the Northern sector and Italians in the south coming over waving our safe-conduct leaflets.